FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Polygamous Spouses

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many polygamous spouses were granted entry clearance in each of the last five years.

Denis MacShane: UKvisas does not hold any records of how many polygamous spouses were granted entry clearance either for settlement or for other categories of application. However, polygamous spouses would not usually qualify for settlement under the Immigration Rules. Further details are set out in Chapter 13 Annex 3 of the Diplomatic Service Procedures available on the UKvisas website: www.ukvisas.gov.uk/dsps.

British Indian Ocean Territory

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what rights Government officials have to visit Diego Garcia (a) unannounced and (b) announced under the terms of the lease granted to the US Administration for the use of Diego Garcia.

Bill Rammell: Under the 1976 United Kingdom/United States Exchange of Notes concerning the US Defence Facility on Diego Garcia, access to Diego Garcia is in general restricted to members of the Forces of the United Kingdom and of the United States, the Commissioner and public officers in the service of the British Indian Ocean Territory, representatives of the Government of the United Kingdom and of the United States and, subject to normal immigration requirements, contractor personnel.

Turkey

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from British citizens with shares in the Turkish companies Ceas and Kepez Elektrik who have received no compensation following the Turkish Government's takeover of these companies; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is not aware of any UK nationals who are shareholders in either of these companies. No British nationals have made representations to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on this issue. Such individuals should seek legal advice in Turkey and the British Embassy in Ankara would be happy to advise any UK shareholders of suitable legal firms. The United Kingdom Investment and Promotion Protection Agreement should then be used to seek redress, if appropriate, from the Turkish Government.

Cuba

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Cuban Government on the detention and treatment of (a) Jorge Luis Garcia Perez and (b) Dr. Oscar Ellias Biscet; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) today (UIN 185768).

Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 15 July 2004, to question reference 184114, what financial assistance was set aside by (a) the Government and (b) the European Union specifically for facilities for the joint benefit of Greek and Turkish Cypriots in the town of Famagusta.

Denis MacShane: EU member states are still negotiating the details of the European Commission's proposals for the disbursement of €259 million of financial aid for northern Cyprus. Until agreement has been reached on the details, it is not possible to say where the funds will be allocated and for what specific purpose. The UK does not at this stage have any plans for unilateral financial assistance but will pay its share of the EU funding.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals his Department has (a) received and (b) made to amend the mandate of the United Nations Organisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to include authority to monitor and report on natural resource exploitation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: We have received recommendations from some Non-Governmental Organisations to include the authority to monitor and report on natural resource exploitation in the United Nations' Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's (MONUC) mandate. We await the Secretary-General's report and recommendations for the future of MONUC, due on 15 August, which we will consider carefully.

Departmental Administration Costs

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the total administration costs were in his Department in financial years (a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98.

Denis MacShane: Details of the Department's gross running costs for 1996–97 and 1997–98 are contained in Table 5.5 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2000–01 (Cm 4601). These figures are on a cash basis. From Public Expenditure Analyses 2001–02 (Cm 5101), Departments' administrative expenditure was reported on a resource basis, as administration costs.
	Copies of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses are in the Library of the House and are on HM Treasury's public website (www.hm-treasury.gov.uk).

China

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visa applications from students in China have been refused (a) this year and (b) in each of the last five years.

Denis MacShane: The information is as follows:
	
		China(1)
		
			  2003–04 2002–03 2001–02 2000–01 1999–2000 1998–99 
		
		
			 Student applications received 35,508 34,477 29,338 18,933 12,574 5,429 
			 Students refused 11,554 9,095 7,986 5,073 3,114 1,501 
			 Refused as percentage of received 32.5 26.4 27.2 26.8 24.8 27.6 
		
	
	(1) Financial year running 1 April to 31 March.
	The figures include statistics from our missions in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou. The majority of student applications are made in Beijing.

Departmental Expenditure

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was spent by the Foreign Office in (a) 1996–97 and (b) the last year for which figures are available on special advisers' (i) salaries and (ii) travel expenses.

Jack Straw: During the period 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office spent £98,978 on Special Advisers' salaries.
	During the period 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office spent £162,106 on Special Advisers' salaries and pension contributions.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office spent a total of £23,192 on Special Advisers' travel expenses during the period 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004. Figures for travel expenses going back to 1996/97 are not available.

Egypt

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Egyptian Government on bringing to justice those responsible for the deaths of 21 Christians in El-Khosheh in 2000.

Bill Rammell: We were deeply concerned by the sectarian violence in El-Khosheh in January 2001, which left 20 Christians and 1 Muslim dead. We have followed the case closely, and made our concerns known at the time. We were encouraged that the Prosecutor-General persistently sought judicial review of early judgements in the case, reflecting the authorities' concern that justice be done. We are concerned that this process seems, following a decision of the Court of Cassation last month, to be at an end. We will continue to make our concerns known to the appropriate authorities.

European Union

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to commission a cost-benefit analysis of the economic impact of the UK's membership of the European Union.

Denis MacShane: While there are no immediate plans to commission further research, the Government continue to monitor the need for further evaluation and assessment in this area, as elsewhere. The Government are convinced of the benefits of UK membership of the European Union.

Hague Convention

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Tonbridge and Malling (Sir John Stanley) of 12 July 2004, Official Report, column 1060W, on The Hague Convention, what strategy the Government have put in place, and what timeline they has drawn up, for enacting the primary and secondary legislation in order for the UK to ratify the UN Convention Against Corruption; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Gordon (Malcolm Bruce) on 27 May 2004, Official Report, column 1761W.

India

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what impact the strategic alliance agreed in January between the Indian and Iranian governments has had on the Government's decision to issue licences for strategic exports to India.

Mike O'Brien: There has been no need to change how we decide on our criteria on export licence applications for India following the agreement between the Indian and Iranian governments to increase their economic and civil nuclear co-operation because the policy enables changes in circumstances to be considered. We assess all export licence applications on a case-by-case basis against: the Consolidated EU and National Arms Licensing Criteria; the statement made by my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Bradshaw) on 15 March 2002, Official Report, column 1298W; and in light of the circumstances prevailing at the time. Under criterion 7, we consider the risk of re-export of equipment under undesirable conditions.

Iraq

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the Iraqi police force is funded.

Bill Rammell: The Iraqi police budget is financed through the Iraqi budget and administered by the Iraqi Ministry of Interior. Iraq's budget consists of funds paid into the Development Fund for Iraq (DPI), established under United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1483 of 22 May 2003. The DPI includes receipts from oil exports and transferred assets of the former Government of Iraq. Additional funding from donor countries and the US Supplemental are paying for specific projects associated with improving the Iraqi Police Service. Donor funds are either committed bilaterally or through the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI). US Supplemental funds are disbursed through the US-run Project and Contracting Office (formerly called the Project Management Office).

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received evidence that terrorists operating in Iraq have secured since May 2003 material that can be put to weapons of mass destruction use.

Denis MacShane: We regularly receive intelligence assessments that address the situation in Iraq and its wider impact, including on the threat from international terrorism.

Iraq

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any hon. Members had an input into the preparation of the September 2002 Dossier, Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Denis MacShane: As has already been made clear the dossier was drafted by the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC), and any changes suggested by Ministers and other officials were accepted or rejected by them. This process was fully discussed in Lord Hutton's Report.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether British officials were told of Abdel Bassel Turk's concern about human rights abuses in 2003.

Denis MacShane: The then Iraqi Minister for Human Rights, Abdel Basit Turki, raised some aspects of Coalition detention practices with British officials in November 2003.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of Iraq's declaration of the status of its programmes of weapons of mass destruction, provided to the United Nations on 8 December 2002, had been translated up to 19 March 2003; what proportion has been translated to date; what plans there are for further translation; what efforts have been made to verify details of the declaration through the work of the Iraq Survey Group; and what plans he has to make public all or part of the translated text.

Denis MacShane: Translation of the Iraqi declaration was complete by 19 March 2003.
	The Iraq Survey Group was not tasked with verifying the December 2002 declaration.
	The declaration was required by UN Security Council Resolution 1441. It is for the UN to decide whether to publish any part of the declaration.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in respect of the information Her Majesty's Government received from a foreign intelligence source suggesting that Iraq had attempted to procure uranium from Niger, checks were made with former Iraqi ambassador Wissam Al-Zahawi.

Denis MacShane: No. In the circumstances prevailing in late 2002/early 2003 it would not have been possible for UK officials to have discussed the issue directly with ambassador Al-Zahawi.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he requested (a) the Secret Intelligence Service and (b) the Government Communications Headquarters for updated evaluations of the conclusions set out in the Government dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction (i) following the dossier's publication up to 20 March 2003 and (ii) once the United Kingdom was in receipt of Iraq's declaration on its programmes of weapons of mass destruction, pursuant to the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441 (2002), provided on 8 December 2002.

Denis MacShane: Intelligence has been gathered and evaluated on an on-going basis since the publication of the dossier.

Israel

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with members of the Quartet concerning an arms embargo on Israel.

Bill Rammell: Both our EU partners and we are guided by the EU Code of Conduct on arms exports which means that we will not issue licences where there is a clear risk that the equipment might be used for internal repression or aggressively against another country.
	The UK government has had no discussions with the Quartet (UN, US, Russia, EU) concerning an arms embargo on Israel.

Israel

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice his Department has given to contractors working on the Israeli security wall on the International Court of Justice ruling on the legality of the wall.

Denis MacShane: The UK Government have consistently made clear their view that the building of the barrier on occupied land is illegal and harms the prospects for peace. We have urged the Israeli Government to re-route it away from occupied land, and continue to do so.
	Although agreements between the Israeli Government and UK contractors are a commercial and contractual issue in which the Government cannot get directly involved, we hope that contractors will take our view on the barrier into account. The UK Government are not aware of any UK companies working on the construction of the Israeli barrier.

Israel

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the UK companies involved in the construction of the Israeli security wall.

Denis MacShane: The UK Government is not aware of any UK companies involved in the construction of the Israeli barrier.

Israel

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government concerning the Citizenship and Entry into Israel law due for review at the end of July; and what assessment he has made of the human rights aspects of this law.

Bill Rammell: My noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean discussed this law and its effects with several human rights groups during her visit to Israel in October 2003. Our Embassy in Tel Aviv has also raised the law and its impact with representatives of the Israeli government.
	The Israeli Cabinet has approved a number of amendments to this law and extended it for six months rather than one year. Nonetheless, the Government remains concerned that this law discriminates against Arab Israelis. Along with our EU partners, we will continue to monitor the law and its effect on Arab Israelis.

Israel

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the UN concerning the positioning of a human rights rapporteur in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Bill Rammell: The UK Government welcomes the efforts of John Dugard, the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. We remain gravely concerned by the humanitarian situation in the occupied territories, and we continue to raise our concerns with the Government of Israel.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has made no specific representations to the UN about the positioning of a human rights rapporteur in the occupied territories.

Israel

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government concerning underground aquifers and other water resources enclosed on the Israeli side of the security barrier.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean expressed concerns about the impact of the barrier, in particular the humanitarian impact on the lives of Palestinians, with a number of Israeli Ministers, most recently with the Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom. The damaging effect that the barrier has had on Palestinian access to water resources is one of the aspects our representations have focused on.

Ministerial Travel

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the total cost of air travel between Northern Ireland and Great Britain was for (a) Ministers and (b) officials in the Department in the last year for which figures are available.

Mike O'Brien: The information in the categories requested could only be provided at disproportionate costs. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not differentiate in its records between money spent by Ministers on air travel and money spent by officials accompanying Ministers. Nor do the records differentiate between travel to Northern Ireland and travel between other parts of the United Kingdom. In the Financial Year 2003–2004, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office spent £724,849 on domestic air travel for Ministers and officials.

Overseas Missions

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 7 June 2004, Official Report, column 57W, what proportion of the time that British missions overseas devote to trade development and investment work is for military goods at (a) UK embassies in general and (b) the UK embassy in Saudi Arabia.

Mike O'Brien: Responsibility for advice on the purchase of UK military equipment UK Diplomatic Missions overseas normally rests with Defence Attaches or staff from the Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO). In the case of Saudi Arabia, there is a dedicated First Secretary (Defence Supply) based in Riyadh. A number of other British Missions overseas also have both military and civilian staff who are dedicated to Defence sales. The duties of staff employed in Trade and Investment work in Embassy commercial sections world wide do not usually include defence sales, except in the few cases where neither DESO nor Defence Attache staff are represented at the Mission. To provide a more detailed breakdown would incur disproportionate costs. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Gordon (Malcolm Bruce) on 30 June 2004 Official Report, column 350W for the proportion of Defence Attache's time spent supporting legitimate defence exports and defence procurement collaboration activities in accordance with Government policy on arm exports at our overseas Missions.

Overseas Prisoners (Resettlement)

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department will develop a set of protocols to be followed in order to assist the resettlement of prisoners returning from abroad; and what actions his Department will take to ensure that (a) resettlement is as untraumatic as possible, and (b) returning prisoners are accorded sufficient assistance to begin rebuilding their lives.

Denis MacShane: Her Majesty's Government believe that British nationals returning from imprisonment overseas need to be rehabilitated and reintegrated into society as quickly as possible. The best way for this to happen is through rapid entry into the benefit system when they return to the UK.
	Returnees can be helped to do this by registering with "Prisoners Abroad", via their nearest UK Diplomatic Mission, as early as possible during their sentence. 'Prisoners Abroad' is an independent non-government organisation (NGO) and charity, co-funded by trust funds and private individuals as well as by government. It offers an excellent resettlement programme which aims to help eligible returning British nationals access the benefits available and looks after them while they do this.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's work with "Prisoners Abroad" is an excellent example of an effective partnership between government and the voluntary sector as envisaged by the Compact on relations between government and the voluntary and community sector in England. The Compact is a partnership agreement between government and the voluntary and community sector (VCS), providing a framework for their future relationship.

Palestine

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the Government have offered the Palestinian Authority in trying to quell disturbances within Palestine.

Bill Rammell: The UK has long said it is important that the Palestinian Authority build effective and transparently managed security services, which are able to deal with law and order on the Palestinian street. This will benefit the Palestinian public. It is also a commitment under the Roadmap. We have been working with the Palestinian Authority over recent months on improving their security capacity, and we continue to do so.
	The UK has not, however, provided specific assistance to the Palestinian Authority's management of the disturbances in Gaza in recent days.

Sudan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the government of Sudan about (a) the ratification of the UN Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and (b) the reflection of that ratification in national legislation.

Bill Rammell: The UN Convention Against Torture was raised as recently as 19 July as part of the EU-Sudan dialogue. A draft law is currently before the Council of Ministers for ratification.

Sudan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of people who have been sentenced to (a) death, (b) amputation, (c) cross-amputation and (d) flogging in Sudan in the last 12 months.

Bill Rammell: The Sudanese Organisation Against Torture says that in the 12 months March 2003 to March 2004 they received reports of 71 people being sentenced to death and two to cross amputation. The UK Government supports NGOs and human rights organisations which catalogue and document reports of human rights violations, but exact numbers are not available. We are speaking to the Government of Sudan about making their own figures public. We continue to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances.

Sudan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Sudan about the powers conferred on the Attorney-General and their compatibility with Article 9(3) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Bill Rammell: The Attorney-General was ascribed the new powers under the National Security Act which was introduced in 1999 and has been regularly amended. Our Embassy in Khartoum regularly raises cases relating to incommunicado-detention with the Government of Sudan. On the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement, the Government of Sudan has committed itself to removing the emergency laws and implementing international human rights standards including the obligations of the International Convention for Civil and Political Rights.

Sudan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Sudan about its adherence to Articles 10 and 13 of the UN Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary.

Bill Rammell: We have made representations to the Government of Sudan on the need for due process in their legal system and the need for independence of the judiciary.

Sudan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with members of the United Nations Security Council about the need for a mandatory resolution under Chapter VII of the UN Charter in respect of the conduct of the Government of Sudan in Darfur.

Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 21 July 2004, Official Report, column 344W.

Sudan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with the President of Chad about the relationship between the Janjaweed in Sudan and the Renewed National Front of Chad.

Bill Rammell: We have had no specific discussions with the President of Chad or his Government about the Renewed National Front of Chad. However we continue to monitor the situation with regard to cross-border attacks. The deployment of the African Union Ceasefire Commission in Darfur, to which we have donated £2 million should improve the overall security situation.

Sudan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he had made to the Government of Sudan about the bombing in May 2004 by its forces of the Darfur town of Tabit, south of El Fashir.

Bill Rammell: We regularly press the Government of Sudan to observe all its commitments under the 8 April ceasefire agreement. This includes refraining from aerial bombing.

Sudan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Sudan about the operation of the specialised criminal courts in Darfur.

Bill Rammell: Our Embassy in Khartoum, both bilaterally and through the EU-Sudan dialogue, regularly raises with the Sudanese Government cases that have passed through these courts; focusing not only on the sentences passed but also the lack of due legal process and the right to a fair trial.

Sudan

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Department has made to the Sudanese Government regarding the use of rape by pro-government forces within the Darfur region.

Bill Rammell: Reports of rape in Darfur are most alarming. We have made clear to the Government of Sudan that they must act now to improve the security situation and protect civilians from such atrocities, or the Security Council will need to take further action. These reports also underline the need to get the AU monitoring mission fully operational as quickly as possible, and to deploy Human Rights monitors. Three all-women commissions to investigate rape allegations have recently been established by the Government of Sudan. We are also encouraging the Government of Sudan to ratify the Convention of Elimination of Discrimination Against Women.

Weapons of Mass Destruction

Denzil Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries which the Government (a) knows and (b) believes, to possess weapons of mass destruction.

Denis MacShane: Under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), five states—the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Russia and China—are legally entitled to possess nuclear weapons. Additionally, India and Pakistan have both carried out tests of nuclear explosive devices. We regularly urge Israel to resolve international concerns about its nuclear status by acceding to the NPT as a non-nuclear weapons state. We continue to believe that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) has both the materials and the technical capability to produce nuclear weapons. We also remain very concerned that Iran continues to have ambitions to manufacture nuclear weapons.
	All States Party to the Chemical Weapons Convention that have declared possession of chemical weapons are in the process of destroying their stocks of these weapons in accordance with their obligations under the Convention.
	We warmly welcome recent moves by Libya to abandon its programmes for the development of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
	We continue to believe that Iraq, under Saddam Hussein, was pursuing programmes for the development of WMD and are also concerned by persistent reports that Syria is also pursuing such programmes.
	We regularly urge all countries to sign, ratify and abide by the obligations of all Treaties and Conventions covering the proliferation of WMD.

CABINET OFFICE

Civil Service Management Code

Alistair Burt: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what representations he has received to seek amendment to the Civil Service Management Code in order to allow an appeal process in relation to personnel matters which is independent of the Department in which the complaint arose; if he will take steps to make such an amendment; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Other than that received from the hon. Member no other representations have been received from hon. Members to seek amendment to the Civil Service Management Code's rules on personal grievance appeals.
	Every civil servant has a right of appeal against a management decision that affects them adversely and departments and agencies have delegated authority to determine appropriate arrangements for hearing such appeals and I am not convinced that there are any compelling reasons to change the current arrangements.

Consultants

David Cameron: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how much his Office spent on (a) head hunters and recruitment consultants and (b) management consultants in (i) 1996–97 and (ii) the last year for which figures are available;
	(2)  how much has been spent by his Office on (a) advertising and (b) public relations consultants in (i) 1996–97 and (ii) the last year for which figures are available.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 19 July 2004
	Financial information prior to the 1997–98 financial year was produced on a previous accounting system and cannot be readily be retrieved without incurring disproportionate cost.
	The Cabinet Office spent £282,000 on advertising and £15.244 million on external consultancy in 2003–04. This figure may change due to accounting adjustments and is subject to final audit. External consultancy incorporates consultancy in several areas including financial, information technology and communications.
	Expenditure on headhunters, recruitment consultants, management consultants and public relations consultants is contained within the external consultancy figure and cannot be separately identified without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Costs

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the total administration costs were in his Department in financial years (a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98.

Douglas Alexander: Details of the Department's gross running costs for 1996–97 and 1997–98 are contained in Table 5.5 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2000–01 (Cm 4601). These figures are on a cash basis. From Public Expenditure Analyses 2001–02 (Cm 5101), departments' administrative expenditure was reported on a resource basis, as administration costs.
	Copies of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses are in the Library and are on HM Treasury's public website (www.hm-treasury.gov.uk).

Departmental Staff (Upper Age Limits)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether (a) his Department and (b) agencies for which it is responsible (i) have a set retirement age which applies to all or most personnel and (ii) have a maximum age beyond which applications for employment will not be considered; and what the age is in each case.

Douglas Alexander: The Cabinet Office and its agencies (Government Car Despatch Agency and Central Office for Information) have flexible retirement and recruitment age policies.
	The normal retirement age is 60 except for industrial staff in GCDA where the normal age is 65.
	There is no set maximum age beyond which employment will not be considered.

Employment Tribunals

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many cases against his Office and the agencies for which it is responsible have been brought to employment tribunals in each year since 1997 in relation to (a) equal pay, (b) sex discrimination, (c) race discrimination, (d) disability discrimination and (e) unfair dismissal; how many cost awards were made against (i) respondents and (ii) applicants; and how much has been spent (A) settling and (B) contesting claims.

Douglas Alexander: The information in respect of the Cabinet Office and its two agencies, COI and the Government Car and Despatch Service (GCDA) is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Equal pay Sex discrimination Race discrimination Disability discrimination Unfair dismissal 
		
		
			 1997 0 2 0 0 0 
			 1998 0 0 0 0 0 
			 1999 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2000 0 0 1 1 0 
			 2001 0 0 1 1 2 
			 2002 0 (2)1 0 0 1 
			 2003 0 0 0 0 (3)1 
		
	
	(2) Same case as the one originally brought in 1997. The total cost of contesting the case is recorded in 2002.
	(3) Case is on-going.
	Notes:
	1. Figures given are for current Cabinet Office agencies and the year the case was settled.
	2. The figures are supplied by the Treasury Solicitor's Department, which is responsible for litigation on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
	Total cost involved in contesting claims in each year and the number of settlements is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number of cost awards made:  
			  (i) Respondents (ii) Applicants Costs of contesting claims (£) Number of settlements 
		
		
			 1997 0 0 1,674 0 
			 1998 0 0 0 0 
			 1999 0 0 0 0 
			 2000 0 0 4,055 0 
			 2001 0 0 15,800 1 
			 2002 0 0 6,480 1 
			 2003 0 0 4,000 1 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures given are for current Cabinet Office agencies and the year the case was settled.
	2. The figures are supplied by the Treasury Solicitor's Department, which is responsible for litigation on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
	The total cost of settlements over this period was £36,379. Information about how much was spent on settling individual claims has been withheld to protect the confidentiality of individuals.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Richard Bacon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people were employed in the Government Car and Despatch Agency (a) in 1997 and (b) at the latest date for which information is available, broken down by job title; what functions were performed by those holding each job title; and how many people were employed whose primary function was (i) human resource or personnel functions, (ii) finance and accounting functions, (iii) information technology functions and (iv) other support, back office or administration functions.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 14 July 2004
	The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car and Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive Mr. Nick Matheson to write to the hon. member. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Library.

Prime Minister's Delivery Unit

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers work in the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit, broken down by salary bracket.

Douglas Alexander: As at 1 June 2004 31 civil servants and no special advisers were working in the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit. The information is based on headcount. The number of civil servants broken down by salary bracket is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Salary bracket Number of staff by headcount 
		
		
			 £15,570-£24,289(4) 3 
			 £21,268-£32,361(5) 6 
			 £35,819-£50,035 10 
			 £51,250 and above 12 
		
	
	(4) This incorporates two pay ranges.
	(5) This incorporates two ranges.

Refurbishment Costs

David Cameron: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the total cost of refurbishments to the fabric of buildings owned by his Office has been since May 1997.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 19 July 2004
	Costs of renovation and refurbishment of freehold buildings on the Cabinet Office's estate (excluding the Civil Service College's site at Sunningdale Park) since 1997–98 to 2003–04 are shown in the table:
	
		
			  Cost (£) 
		
		
			 1997–98 0 
			 1998–99 2,161,402 
			 1999–2000 15,209,224 
			 2000–01 12,428,647 
			 2001–02 14,817,674 
			 2002–03 12,304,117 
			 2003–04 7,496,154 
		
	
	The period from 1998–99 to 2003–04 includes costs associated with the major redevelopment of the previously vacant and highly dilapidated Admiralty Arch, 22 and 26 Whitehall buildings.
	A PFI/PPP partnership in relation to the Civil Service College's Sunningdale Park site commenced on 13 May 2002. From that date, the college's private sector partner has spent around £12 million on an overall investment plan. This has included expenditure on renovation, refurbishment and new build projects.

TRANSPORT

Road Congestion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made with reducing road congestion.

David Jamieson: Significant progress has been made putting measures in place to tackle congestion. 100 road schemes have been completed since 2000, 22 of these delivered since June 2002. This includes the M6 Toll, which opened in December 2003. A further 12 strategic road schemes are currently under construction, including widening of the M25 between Junctions 12 to 15 around Heathrow. The London congestion charge has delivered significant benefits. Traffic Officers are already being deployed on the motorway network starting in the West Midlands, to improve the clearing of incidents, and new technologies are being introduced to help improve traffic flow. The Traffic Management Act gives new powers to the Traffic Officers, and to local authorities to improve the management of local roads.

Road Schemes

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what European Union financial support has been given for major inter regional road developments in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years.

David Jamieson: The following table shows all the road projects and telematic schemes in the UK that have been awarded Trans-European Network (TENs) funding since the TENs fund was established in 1996.
	At the current exchange rate this means that the UK has been awarded €30.618 million (equivalent to £20.413 million at present exchange rates). This is subject to confirmation from the Commission for two 2004 awards.
	While TENs projects are awarded funding there can be a number of reasons as to why the payment could be less than the original award, including exchange rate fluctuations, changes in the scope of a project, or the Commission deciding that some costs are ineligible. It is therefore not possible to translate the awards into annual financial support.
	
		
			 Reference Project title Award € million Award £ million 
		
		
			 UK/96/88 UK—Ireland—Benelux road link 1.700 1.133 
			 UK/96/90 Study on Newry—Dundalk cross border road link 0.325 0.217 
			 UK/97/282 A75 Stranraer to Gretna Trunk Road 1.300 0.867 
			 UK/97/283 UK—Ireland—Benelux road link 1.700 1.133 
			 — A14 route strategy studies — — 
			 — M6/M11 capacity studies — — 
			 — Bridge assessment study — — 
			 UK/00/1503 Northern Ireland transportation infrastructure 2000 0.500 0.333 
			 UK/01/1302 UK—Ireland—Benelux road link 5.000 3.333 
			 — A120 Stansted to Braintree road upgrading — — 
			 UK/02/1302 UK—Ireland—Benelux road link 2.500 1.667 
			 — A120 Stansted to Braintree road upgrading — — 
			 UK/03/1302 UK—Ireland—Benelux road link 5.000 3.333 
			 — A120 Stansted to Braintree road upgrading — — 
			 UK/04/ Loughbrickland to Beech Hill road(6) 2.500 1.667 
			 UK/04/ UK—Ireland—Benelux road link(6) 2.400 1.600 
			 — A120 Stansted to Braintree road upgrading — — 
			 Total(7) — 22.925 15.283 
			 
			 — Telematic schemes 0.300 0.200 
			 UK/96/91 Study of National RDS-TMC implementation in the UK and its interconnection across national frontiers 0.300 0.200 
			 UK/96/92 Study on road link network-real time traffic information 0.400 0.267 
			 UK/97/275 Studies for traffic management and traffic information in Wales 0.400 0.267 
			 UK/98/164 Study of National RDS—TMC implementation in the UK and its interconnection across national frontiers 1.000 0.667 
			 UK/98/182 Telematics and traffic management on the TERN — — 
			 UK/01/4001 Streetwise — — 
			 — Studies 0.900 0.600 
			 — Works 0.900 0.600 
			 UK/02/4001 Streetwise — — 
			 — Studies 1.150 0.767 
			 — Works 0.651 0.434 
			 UK/03/4001 Streetwise — — 
			 — Studies 1.110 0.740 
			 — Works 0.582 0.388 
			 Total — 7.693 5.130 
			 
			 Grand Total — 30.618 20.413 
		
	
	(6) Awaiting confirmation from the Commission.
	(7) Total subject to confirmation from Commission.
	Note:
	Exchange rate used £1 equals €1.5.

Road Schemes

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road schemes have been started in (a) the Thames Valley area and (b) Oxfordshire in each year since 1992.

David Jamieson: holding answer 22 July 2004
	On the strategic road network construction has started on two major road schemes, since April 1998, in the Thames Valley area. These are as follows:
	
		
			 Scheme Start of works Actual/estimated completion 
		
		
			 A41 Aston Clinton Bypass August 2001 October 2003 
			 A34 Chieveley/M4 J13 Improvement March 2003 2004–05 
		
	
	Work has not started on any major strategic road schemes, Oxfordshire, since 1998. This information is available only for major road schemes costing in excess of £5 million starting after 1998 when the new Targeted Programme of Improvements was introduced.
	On local roads there have been no starts on major schemes in the Thames Valley or Oxfordshire since 1998. For these roads the Department only make decisions about schemes over £5 million which are approved individually through the LTP process. Smaller schemes are funded by the local authorities out of their block allocations and the Department does not hold records of how that funding was used. We do not have records on major scheme starts before the new LTP system was introduced in 1999–2000 and getting it would be difficult, particularly since there have been changes to local authority structures. Trying to find the information would take time and be at a disproportionate cost.

Road Schemes

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how his Department measures his target to maintain the strategic road network at optimum level; and what the level of the strategic road network was estimated to be at 1 April.

David Jamieson: The Department sets the Highways Agency an indicator to measure its performance in maintaining the network in a safe and serviceable condition. A new way of measuring the performance was introduced in the 2004–05 Highways Agency Business Plan, with a target to "achieve a road surface condition index score of 100l".
	In consultation with the Department the Agency has developed an index that measures road surface condition. This is a major improvement on the previous indicator that was based on the percentage of the network that required investigation. The measure of road surface condition is based on a wider range of surveys covering rutting, unevenness, cracking and skid resistance. The target takes account of the fact that it is not practical or sustainable to maintain the whole road network in an as-new condition. The condition of the network is established, using the principles of minimising whole life costs taking into account disruption to road users. The condition at which the road network is to be maintained has been equated to a road surface condition index score of 100 and is the target level at which the road network will be maintained year-on-year. To allow for variability/uncertainty in annual condition scores, a tolerance of 1 is allowed in the target.
	We estimate that the level at 1 April was within the parameters set out i.e. an index of 1001. The actual figure will be calculated and the result audited during 2004–05.

Road Schemes

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Government is on track to achieve its target of widening 360 miles of strategic road network by 2010; and if he will list the schemes involved in the widening programme indicating the (a) miles of road widened, (b) construction cost, (c) scheduled start of construction, (d) expected completion date and (e) status at 1 April.

David Jamieson: The Government are on track to deliver 360 miles of widening of the strategic road network by the end of 2010–11 (within the period of the 10 Year Plan).
	The following table provides a list of current and completed major schemes that are expected to contribute 387 route miles of widening by the end of 2010–11. Alongside each scheme is detailed: the miles of route widened; the Stage Reached or 2004–05 Key/Critical Event as at 1 April 2004; the latest estimated outturn cost; and the anticipated dates of completion for those schemes that have already started works, or are expected to start works in 2004–05
	Firm decisions have yet to be made on start of works for the remainder of the current programme so no forecast dates of opening are possible.
	
		
			   Scheme Stage reached or 2004–05 key/critical event (as at 1 April 2004) Latest estimated outturn cost (£m) Route miles Estimated dates of completion 
		
		
			 A1 Willowburn-Denwick Improvement Completed Scheme 9.0 2.6 — 
			 A11 Roudham Heath- Attleborough Dualling Completed Scheme 50.0 6.2 — 
			 A43 Towcester to M40 Dualling (including A43 Whitfield Turn-Brackley Heath Improvement and A43 M40 to B4031 Dualling) Completed Scheme 97.0 6.9 — 
			 A46 Newark-Lincoln Improvement Completed Scheme 41.0 8.1 — 
			 A1033 Hedon Road Improvement, Hull Completed Scheme 85.0 4.2 — 
			 A2 Bean-Cobham Widening Phase 1 Road Open 20.0 3.8 2004–05 
			 A34 Chieveley/M4 J13 Improvement Road Open 76.0 1.3 2004–05 
			 Al (M) Wetherby to Walshford No Event-Already on Site 34.0 3.7 2005–06 
			 M25 J12–15 Widening No Event-Already on Site 105.0 6.8 2005–06 
			 M5 J17 to J18A Northbound Climbing Lane (Hallen Hill) Start of Works 6.0 0.9 2005–06 
			 A1 (M) Ferrybridge to Hook Moor No Event-Already on Site 161.0 10.2 2006–07 
			 A249 Iwade-Queenborough Start of Works 81.0 3.3 2006–07 
			 A500 City Road and Stoke Road Junctions No Event-Already on Site 60.0 1.0 2006–07 
			 M60 J 5–8 (formerly M63 J6–9 Widening) No Event-Already on Site 117.0 4.7 2006–07 
			 A120 Stansted Braintree Road Open 130.0 15.0 Open July 2004 
			 A2 Bean-Cobham Widening Phase 2 Publish Draft Orders and Environmental Statement 101.0 2.5 — 
			 A2/A282 Dartford Improvement Secretary of State's decision announced 80.0 2.1 — 
			 A303 Stonehenge No event-public inquiry already started 223.0 5.8 — 
			 A11 Attleborough Bypass Improvement Public Inquiry 29.0 3.0 — 
			 All Five ways to Thetford Improvement Publish Draft Orders and Environmental Statement 60.0 9.1 — 
			 M6 Carlisle to Guardsmill Publish Draft Orders and Environmental Statement 69.0 26.6 — 
			 A3 Hindhead Improvement Public Inquiry 236.0 5.1 — 
			 A38 Dobwalls Bypass Publish Draft Orders and Environmental Statement 36.0 2.5 — 
			 A595 Parton -Lillyhall Improvement Public Inquiry 25.0 3.2 — 
			 A46 Newark-Widmerpool Improvement Preferred Route Announcement 186.0 16.9 — 
			 A30 Bodmin Indian Queens Works price reviewed/confirmed 69.0 7.2 — 
			 A483 Pant-Llanymynech Bypass ECI Tenders Invited 41.0 1.6 — 
			 A66 Temple Sowerby ECI Contract Awarded 23.0 3.1 — 
			 A1 Dishforth-Barton (2 schemes-Dishforth Leeming, Leeming Barton) No Event-ECI Contract already awarded 325.0 24.5 — 
			 Al Bramham-Wetherby (including Wetherby Bypass) Publish Draft Orders and Environmental Statement 62.0 3.8 — 
			 A47 Blofield to North Burlingham No Event-ECI Contract already awarded 15.0 1.8 — 
			 A66 Greta Bridge to Stephen Bank Dualling ECI Tenders Invited 9.0 3.0 — 
			 A66 Scotch Corner to Carkin Moor Dualling ECI Tenders Invited 11.0 3.8 — 
			 A428 Caxton Common to Hardwick Improvement Secretary of State's decision announced 44.0 4.8 — 
			 M5 J19 to J20 Southbound Climbing Lane (Naish Hill) Environmental Statement Published 8.0 1.0 — 
			 M5 J19 to J20 Northbound Climbing Lane (Tickenham Hill) Environmental Statement Published 8.0 0.8 — 
			 A57/A628 Mottram-Hollingworth-Tintwhistle ECI Contract Awarded 103.0 0.8 — 
			 Ml J6A to J10 Widening ECI Contract Awarded 241.0 8.2 — 
			 Ml J10 to J13 Widening ECI Contract Awarded 382.0 7.9 — 
			 Al Morpeth to Felton Dualling ECI Tenders Invited 84.0 7.8 — 
			 Al Adderstone to Belford Dualling ECI Tenders Invited 14.0 1.3 — 
			 A505 Dunstable Northern Bypass (aka Ml -A5 Link Road) ECI Contract Awarded 48.0 2.8 — 
			 A421 Bedford to Ml Junction 13 Preferred Route Announcement 171.0 7.5 — 
			 A21 Tonbridge Bypass to Pembury Dualling ECI Contract Awarded 65.0 2.6 — 
			 A590 High and Low Newton Bypass ECI Tenders Invited 22.0 2.7 — 
			 A30 Garland Cross to Chiverton Cross Preferred Route Announcement 125.0 8.5 — 
			 A30 Temple to Higher Carblake Improvement ECI Contract Awarded 41.0 1.5 — 
			 A27 Southerham-Beddingham Improvement Publish Draft Orders and Environmental Statement 19.0 1.6 — 
			 Ml J21 to J30 Widening Awaiting TPI Entry (achieved) 1915.0 39.8 — 
			 M25 J1b to J3 Widening Awaiting TPI Entry (achieved) 66.0 3.1 — 
			 M25 J16 to J23 Widening Awaiting TPI Entry (achieved) 496.0 17.6 — 
			 M25 J23 to J27 Widening Awaiting TPI Entry (achieved) 419.0 13.6 — 
			 A23 Handcross to Warninglid Widening Awaiting TPI Entry (achieved) 41.0 2.1 — 
			 A453 Widening (M1 J24 to A52 Nottingham) Awaiting TPI Entry (achieved) 89.0 9.7 — 
			 M6 Toll Road Completed Scheme * 27.0 — 
			 A2/M2 Cobham to Junction 4 Widening Completed Scheme 280.0 10.6 — 
			 Total  — 387.6 —

Road Schemes

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Government achieved its target of delivering 100 major trunk road junction schemes by 2003.

David Jamieson: 97 out of 100 small trunk road improvements to tackle safety and congestion, announced in June 2000, have been completed. The remaining three will be completed during 2004–05.

Transport Expenditure

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much public money was spent on transport in each of the last 25 years.

David Jamieson: Figures for total managed expenditure on transport between 1983–84 and 2002–03 (estimated outturn) are available in Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses published annually by Her Majesty's Treasury. Figures for earlier years are not available on a comparable basis.

Transport Funding (Warrington)

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much Government funding has been allocated for transport improvements in Warrington in each of the past five years.

Tony McNulty: Funding for transport improvements allocated to the local authority in each of the last five years is as follows:
	
		£ million
		
			  Improvement Maintenance 
		
		
			 2003–04 2.2 2.8 
			 2002–03 2.2 2.5 
			 2001–02 2 2.4 
			 1999–2000 0.9 1.8 
		
	
	There have been three Government funded major schemes taken forward via Warrington's Local Transport Plan and the previous Transport policies and Programme systems. 1. Urban Traffic Management and Control (DfT funding of £5.195 million 2001–2002-this project has incurred expenditure to date, and is on-going)The following projects have yet to gain full approval from DfT, but have received provisional funding to the maximum cash figures stated; 2. Bridgefoot bypass (£5.895 million provisionally approved DfT funding 2001–2002); 3. Central Bus Interchange (£6.338 million provisionally approved DfT funding 2003/2004).

TREASURY

Aviation Fuel

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he supports the budget proposal from the European Commission for an EU tax on airline fuel.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer he received from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport on 22 June 2004, Official Report, column 1315W.

National Debt

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of (a) national debt and (b) debt interest payment was in each of the last 25 years at today's prices.

John Healey: Figures for public sector net debt and central Government debt interest payments in current prices are available on the Office for National Statistics website: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/tsdtables1. asp?vlnk=fsf
	Table 1.1 A: Public Sector Finances (series RUTN and RUTO) shows figures for public sector net debt in £ billion and as a percentage of GDP. Table 1.1C: Central Government (series NMFX) shows debt interest payments in £ billions.
	Figures for GDP deflators at market prices are available on the HM Treasury website: http:// www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/economic data and tools/gdp deflators/data gdp fig.cfm

Public Relations

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the salary costs to the Department were for employees working in public relations and publicity in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The Treasury currently has a communications team consisting of a press office and a publishing and internet branch.
	The press office manages the Treasury's and Treasury Ministers' communications with the media. For information on salary costs, I refer the hon. gentleman to the answer by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell on 30 June 2004, Official Report, column 286W.
	The publishing and internet branch manages the Treasury's formal publications of documents and other material, and maintains its public internet site. Total basic salaries for that branch were £268,000 for 2001–02, £314,000 for 2002–03 and £236,000 for 2003–04. Comparable figures for previous years are not available.

Retail Spending/Household Income

Kenneth Clarke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the change in the level of (a) retail spending and (b) household income has been in each of the last seven years.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Kenneth Clarke, dated 5 August 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on the change in the levels of retail spending and household income in each of the last seven years. (186214)
	The information available is shown in the table below. Retail spending is measured by the value of retail sales. Household income is measured as the total resources in the combined household and non-profit institutions serving households (NPISH) sector account, ie before deduction of tax etc. The accounts for the household and NPISH sectors are currently combined: separate estimates are not available.
	
		Annual percentage change in value of retail sales and Household(8) income UK 1997 to 2003
		
			  Value of retail sales: annual percentage change Household income(8): annual percentage change 
		
		
			 1997 6.3 5.6 
			 1998 3.9 5.3 
			 1999 3.3 5.6 
			 2000 3.6 7.5 
			 2001 5.9 6.0 
			 2002 4.9 3.5 
			 2003 2.4 4.3 
		
	
	(8) Household income of the combined household and non-profit institutions serving households sectors.

Trade Codings

Bill Tynan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 4 May 2004, Official Report, column 1484W, what proportion of trade recorded under these codings has been assessed to be (a) miscoding and (b) illegal importation; and how many prosecutions have resulted.

John Healey: HM Customs and Excise have examined the trade records for code 43031010 since 1 January 2003 and have found that all transactions have arisen as a result of miscoding. A similar analysis in respect of imports and exports in previous years would require examination of the records of the transaction held by the importer or exporter and could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.
	Customs have no information or record of any illegal importation and their assessment is that the low values of trade recorded in the period since 1998 have arisen from either:
	(a) further examples of miscoding, or
	(b) legitimate imports or exports involving either adult seal skins, non commercial trade or trade in goods that have resulted from traditional hunting by the Inuit people.
	No trade has been recorded against codes 43017010, 43021941 or 43023051 since 1998.
	There have been no prosecutions since 1998 in respect of breaches of the prohibition established by the Import of Seal Skins Regulations 1996.

Trainee Inspector of Taxes Programme

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated (a) advertisement and recruitment costs and (b) employment costs, including national insurance, will be for the Inland Revenue's Trainee Inspector of Taxes Programme for July 2004.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is as follows.
	(a) Costs:
	Advertising costs:
	A variety of media were used to advertise the Inland Revenue's Tax Inspector Recruitment Programme, including a national broad-sheet newspaper and recruitment/diversity web-sites, some of which were sourced free of charge. The total cost of advertising is estimated at £14,000.
	Recruitment costs:
	The cost of the recruitment campaign is estimated at £314,000. This estimate is based on an expected volume of 10,000 applications. The recruitment campaign started on 19 July 2004 and the final costs cannot yet be confirmed.
	(b) Employment costs:
	The employment costs, including national insurance are estimated at £4.9 million per annum.
	The Inland Revenue is currently implementing a number of changes in order to deliver efficiencies in costs and jobs. These particular jobs are part of a Spend to Save Strategy announced in this year's budget.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Positive Activities Programme

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the Positive Activities Programme; and what the level of funding will be made available for the programme in each year from 2003 to 2006.

Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.
	The Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP) programme was launched in spring 2003 offering diversionary activities aimed at young people most at risk of social exclusion, truancy and committing crime. The programme is being delivered across England from May 2003 to March 2006.
	In 2003–04 PAYP funding of £25 million was provided by the Department for Education and Skills, the Big Lottery Fund and the Home Office to deliver a minimum of 22,000 full-time places during all school holiday periods. In addition to the activities, one-to-one support was made available for the most "at risk" young people. Baselines for 2004–05 and 2005–06 have yet to be finalised following this year's Spending Review.

Positive Activities Programme

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many young people participated in the Positive Activities Programme in 2003.

Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.
	The Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP) programme was launched in spring 2003. At least 75,000 young people participated in PAYP activities during the summer holidays of 2003 with approximately another 40,000 taking part during the October half term and Christmas holidays.

Positive Activities Programme

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the local education authorities which participated in the Positive Activities Programme in (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05.

Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.
	The Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP) programme is a cross-government programme which is administered by the Department for Education and Skills. Responsibility for managing programme delivery in each region is devolved to the nine regional government offices. Delivery plans prepared by each of the regional government offices show that the Positive Activities for Young People programme has operated in every local education authority area in both 2003–04 and 2004–05

DEFENCE

Army Training

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel can be trained at any one time at (a) ITR Catterick, (b) ATR Pirbright, (c) ATR Lichfield and (d) ATR Winchester; how many personnel underwent training at each site in each of the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement on Army and infantry recruitment and training.

Ivor Caplin: The following tables show the training capacity and numbers who underwent training by month during financial year 2003–04 for Army Training Regiment Pirbright (ATR(P)), ATR Lichfield (ATR(L)) and ATR Winchester (ATR(W)) and Infantry Training Centre (ITC) Catterick.
	
		Table 1: Training capacity
		
			 Unit Training capacity 
		
		
			 ATR Pirbright 1,008 
			 ATR Lichfield 520 
			 ATR Winchester 520 
			 ITC Catterick 2,360 
		
	
	The training capacity detailed for ATR(P), ATR(L) and ATR(W) is limited by the number of training teams that are available at any one time. For example, ATR(W) has an establishment of 15 training teams with a maximum capacity of 40 trainees per training team. However, due to leave and instructor training, the number of training teams that are available for training purposes at any one time is 13. This figure, multiplied by 40, provides the training capacity of 520 for ATR(W).
	ITC Catterick combines both Phase 1 (initial) and Phase 2 (trade) training for the Infantry. Since the establishment of the Combined Infantry Training course at ITC Catterick in 2002, infantry training at Catterick cannot be divided into defined stages, as the course is essentially one seamless progression from Phase 1 to Phase 2.
	
		Table 2: Numbers under training by month in FY 2003–04
		
			  Unit 
			  ATR(P) ATR(L) ATR(W) ITC(C) 
		
		
			 2003 
			 April 840 411 542 2,069 
			 May 778 369 483 1,925 
			 June 956 245 432 2,017 
			 July 717 209 395 1,889 
			 August 933 349 416 1,787 
			 September 1,025 407 523 1,973 
			 October 780 293 524 2,031 
			 November 708 283 416 2,053 
			 December 972 345 519 1,738 
			  
			 2004 
			 January 918 281 402 1,994 
			 February 894 251 394 2,100 
			 March 859 274 426 2,020 
		
	
	The figures in Table 2 include those trainees in remedial and rehabilitation training, who are additional to training capacity. Hence, in some months, the figures quoted will exceed the training capacity detailed in Table 1.
	Recruitment is buoyant and the Army Training and Recruiting Agency has outperformed against mandated targets over the last two years. Although some battalions are understrength, the general situation across the infantry remains healthy. It is difficult to attain an even manning balance across all regiments. Some regiments benefit from excellent recruitment inflow and a balance has to be made. Where there are shortages elsewhere every effort is made to alleviate the situation.

C-17 Aircraft

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the leased C-17 aircraft; and who bears the cost, under the contract, should an aircraft be lost as a result of pilot error or in combat.

Ivor Caplin: At the conclusion of the current lease arrangement, we intend to buy the current fleet of four aircraft. We intend to purchase a further aircraft bringing our C-17 fleet up to five aircraft.
	In the meantime, should a leased aircraft be lost as a result of pilot error or in combat, the contractual agreement requires that the Ministry of Defence pay the residual value and fulfil the remaining lease payments.

Combat and Operational Clothing

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he took to establish that the tender for combat and operational clothing supplies DC4BESL/1002 Cut and Sew had been conducted in accordance with EU tendering rules.

Adam Ingram: All tenders for non-warlike stores are conducted in accordance with the Public Supply Contract Regulations 1995.

Combat and Operational Clothing

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of jobs that would (a) be created in the UK if the contract for combat and operational clothing supplies DC4BESL/1002 Cut and Sew were to be let to a UK company and (b) be lost in the UK if the contract was awarded to a firm in China.

Adam Ingram: The contract referred to has been awarded to a United Kingdom company creating a small number of quality jobs and it safeguards approximately 40 other jobs. Some new positions have already been advertised in both local and national press, and it is anticipated that further jobs will be created for UK staff during the life of the contract.
	No direct contract has been awarded to China and as such its impact has not been measured.

Combat and Operational Clothing

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria were set down for shortlisting companies tendering for the combat and operational clothing contract DC4DESL/1002; and whether all the companies on the shortlist met all the criteria.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 15 July 2004
	Criteria used, through a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire, were consistent with the Public Supply Contract Regulations 1995; specifically Regulations 14, 15, 16, 17 and 20. All companies selected for the Tender Panel met the criteria.

Combat and Operational Clothing

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on security of supply in relation to contract DC4BESL/1002 Cut and Sew from China.

Adam Ingram: The production of these garments is considered low risk—the most significant technical aspect is the maintenance of the required Infra Red Reflective (IRR) standard. Not withstanding this, the Prime Contractor has identified controls to ensure performance levels are maintained. The Prime Contractor will also have in place a viable logistic system to maintain security of supply.

Defence Information Infrastructure

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what in-house options have been considered for the Defence Information Infrastructure project; and whether a public sector comparator is being explored as part of his Department's approach to IT infrastructures;
	(2)  what intelligent customer elements are being explored as part of the possible privatisation of his Department's IT infrastructure;
	(3)  what consultation has taken place with the recognised trade unions regarding the privatisation of IT functions in his Department; and what documents have been passed to the trade unions as part of or as a result of this consultation process;
	(4)  if he will place in the Library information on the previous contract record of bidders from the Defence Information Infrastructure project; and what account is being taken of these records during the current bidding process.

Adam Ingram: The Defence Information Infrastructure (DII) programme is not a privatisation of IT infrastructure. Under the terms of the Public Private Partnership arrangement, the MOD will continue to own the infrastructure but the delivery of the service will be the responsibility of the chosen commercial Delivery Partner.
	A significant proportion of the Department's IT provision has been outsourced in recent years as part of wider initiatives to make greater use of the private sector in the provision of public services. The Department's policy is that when services already delivered under outsourcing arrangements are re-competed or rationalised, in-house bids should not normally be invited because the associated requirement for substantial reinvestment in management, training and support systems makes it unlikely that an in-house option would represent value for money. Where no in-house bid is invited, an estimate of the costs of a public sector option would normally be made, in order to provide a value for money benchmark.
	In the case of the DII project, the Public Sector Comparator (PSC) is currently being developed with the Trades Unions and reflects the "fallback' option that the MOD would pursue if the commercial bids for DII failed. The PSC assumes the continuation of the current mix of in-house and commercial arrangements including some internal efficiencies and a capability uplift. It will be used within the DII Future Main Gate Business Case as a Value for Money comparator against which to assess the commercial bids. The Trades Unions have been briefed on the current scope of the first increment of DII Future and the related PSC. They have been given the opportunity to comment on the robustness of the PSC and associated risks by 30 July 2004. They have also been invited to submit alternative proposals in the context of the PSC.
	It has also been agreed that the Trades Unions will be involved in the development of the Intelligent Customer Function (ICF) as it progresses. Work on the definition of the Intelligent Customer Function for DII is being taken forward under three main headings:
	The MOD wide responsibilities for the ICF
	The responsibilities of the ICF to be undertaken by the Defence Communications Services Agency (DCSA)
	The ICF functions to be undertaken by the DII Integrated Project Team.
	The elements of the ICF which are currently being explored include:
	Customer and Account Management
	Business and Financial Management
	Service Development and Technical Assurance
	Programme Delivery, including Project Assurance and Benefits
	Management Commercial, Contract and Supplier Management
	Service Assurance
	Formal meetings between MOD staff and the Council of Civil Service Unions (CCSU) have been taking place since the beginning of 2003. We have provided the Trades Unions with access to the same information that has been provided to the two remaining bidders for DII Future. Some examples of the information provided include:
	The DII Business Prospectus provides a comprehensive description of the intended scope of the programme and was made available to the TUs on 3 April 2003.
	A copy of the Procurement Strategy Review Note was made available to the TUs on 3 April. At the request of the CCSU, on 13 February 2004, a copy of comments provided by HM Treasury on the Review Note was also provided.
	A copy of the report produced at the end of the Personnel Impact Study was made available to TUs on 24 June 2003.
	The current scope of DII(F) Increment 1 for which bids have been invited was provided to the TUs on 18 June 2004.
	A copy of the draft Public Sector Comparator (PSC) was passed to the TUs on 28 June 2004 and also access was given to the IPT risk register.
	Formal meetings will continue between officials and the Trades Unions according to an agreed timetable of engagement. This includes a workshop held with them on 2 July 2004 when the current scope of Increment 1 and the PSC was briefed to them.
	Information relating to the track record of the two remaining bidders for the DII contract will not be placed in the Library of the House. This information is commercially sensitive and I am withholding it under Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. However, track record is one of a number of factors included in the evaluation of bids. The Department's Supplier Relations Group has conducted research of bidding consortium members' performance both in Defence and across Government. In addition, the project has taken up references, by telephone and through visits, from existing customers of the key companies in the bidding consortia. Further reference visits will be conducted during the final phase of the procurement, targeting customers in receipt of a similar volume and range of services.

Defence Information Infrastructure

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the full risk assessment setting out control measures proposed by the Government for the possible privatisation of IT infrastructure;
	(2)  how many employees fall within the scope of the Defence Information Infrastructure project, broken down by (a) civil servants and (b) staff provided by contractor support.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 14 July 2004
	The Defence Information Infrastructure (DII) programme Integrated Project Team (IPT) is currently in negotiation with two potential commercial Delivery Partners (DP) for the provision of Information Systems services for Ministry of Defence.
	The DII programme is not a privatisation of IT infrastructure. Under the terms of the proposed Public Private Partnership arrangement, MOD will continue to own the infrastructure but the delivery of support services will be the responsibility of the commercial Delivery Partner.
	Risk management is a key feature of the business of any IPT and its associated Senior Responsible Owner (SRO). DII programme risks are managed on an on-going basis through a risk register; each risk has its own mitigation plan. The IPT also manages a joint risk register with each of the two bidders for the DII contract; each is therefore specific to the particular bidder's proposed solution. These registers are, by their nature, commercially sensitive, and cannot therefore be placed in the Library of the House without the on-going competition being prejudiced.
	As part of the concept phase of the Smart Procurement process, the Initial Gate Business Case (IGBC) for the DII programme outlined the headline risks identified at that stage of the programme. The IGBC was approved in September 2002; the risks identified at that stage will be placed in the Library of the House. A copy of the DII Business Prospectus has already been placed in the Library. The Business Prospectus details why DII is necessary for MOD and how it will be procured.
	The Main Gate Business Case, which is due to be presented to the Investment Approvals Board later this year will provide a current assessment of DII risks and their mitigation plans associated with the procurement. This Business Case will contain commercially sensitive information from the two bidders for the DII contract and therefore cannot be made publicly available.
	Over the planned three main increments of the DII programme, it is estimated that up to 1,500 civilian staff fall within the full scope of the project, including both staff supporting current systems and those presently within the IPT. It has been necessary in some cases to supplement the skills of the civilian and military staff employed in the IPT by more specific expertise from the commercial sector.
	There are currently 13 contractors occupying established civil service posts within the IPT.

Departmental Annual Report

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many copies of his Department's Annual Report were printed in each year since 1997; how many were sold in each year; and what the (a) publication costs and (b) sales revenue were.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence's Annual Report (and Accounts 1 ) is published by The Stationery Office (TSO). The numbers sold by TSO in each year are shown in the table.
	1 2002–03 and 2003–04 only. Prior to 2002–03, the Annual Report was published separately from the Consolidated Departmental Resource Accounts.
	
		Number of Report copies sold
		
			  Total 1 To MOD 2 
		
		
			 1996–97 1,200 520 
			 1997–98 914 510 
			 1998–99 1,117 600 
			 1999–2000 1,287 800 
			 2000–01 1,126 650 
			 2001–02 1,113 450 
			 2002–03 1,153 650 
			 2003–04 (11)— (11)— 
		
	
	(9) To date.
	(10) At time of publication. (MOD subsequently bought 100 further copies of the 2002–03 Annual Report and Accounts).
	(11) Still to publish.
	The costs of printing and publishing MOD's Reports are not met by the Department but fall to TSO, with TSO retaining the revenues earned from sales.
	Reports going back to 1998–99 are available on: www.mod.uk

Departmental Properties

John Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's properties were sold in 2003.

Ivor Caplin: In 2003 the Ministry of Defence sold over 160 parcels of land and properties.

Detainees (US)

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the trilateral agreement governing the handover of prisoners to US authorities remains in force; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The arrangement for transferring internees between the United Kingdom, United States and Australia remains in force.

Future Role of Crombie

Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the completion date for the study on the Future Role of Crombie will be; and what the date will be of the announcement of the outcome of the study.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 19 July 2004
	The Future Role of Crombie Study was completed in March 2004. No decisions have been made and I am therefore not in a position to provide a definitive date of when an announcement will be made.

Green Minister

John Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the activities of the Green Minister in the Department in financial year 2003–04.

Ivor Caplin: I represent the Ministry of Defence on the Ministerial Sub-Committee of Green Ministers. It has been established practice under successive Governments not to disclose information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees. This information is withheld under Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Hooding

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 15 July 2004, Official Report, column 1235W, on Iraq, on what basis military commanders concluded that hooding detainees could be harmful.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 22 July 2004
	On the basis that hooding (if applied inappropriately) could be harmful.

Hooding

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what judgements by the United Nations Committee Against Torture he has studied on the issue of hooding detainees.

Ivor Caplin: Several reports by the United Nations Committee Against Torture have criticised the use of hooding in the context of interrogations and torture. I am not aware, however, of any judgements which would affect our view that temporarily obscuring a detainee's vision by blindfolding or hooding may be justified in certain circumstances such as during the arrest and transit of prisoners to prevent them viewing sensitive information.

Interrogation Policy

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the 10 September document entitled Interrogation and Counter-Resistance Policy issued by the Combined Joint Task Force-7 was seen by British (a) service personnel, (b) officials and (c) Ministers.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 12 July 2004
	The Combined Joint Task Force-7 document entitled Interrogation and Counter-Resistance Policy has not been seen by Defence Ministers. I am not aware that any British armed forces personnel or Ministry of Defence officials have seen the document.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has examined in relation to civilian casualties allegedly caused by UK forces on 24 June 2003 in Majar-al-Kabi.

Adam Ingram: Ministry of Defence ministers received a number of submissions and reports on the tragic events that took place in Majar-Al-Kabir on 24 June 2003, in which six members of the Royal Military Police were killed and a number of British soldiers were wounded.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the killing of approximately 30 Iraqi civilians by British soldiers in Amara in May; whether complaints have been received about this; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: During May, United Kingdom Forces were subject to a large number of attacks by armed elements. For example, on 8 May 2004 over 200 separate incidents were reported in which UK forces were engaged. These attacks included small arms fire, rocket-propelled grenades and mortar attacks. As we have previously made clear, although we record every incident in which we believe there has been a fatality, it is not always possible to determine accurately the number of fatalities that occur during a particular incident.
	A complaint was reportedly made by a local Iraqi leader following an incident in Al Amarah on 14 May 2004, although he later denied making such an allegation. Photographs have also been passed to us by a National Newspaper, which are now being studied by the Royal Military Police.

Iraq

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 28 June, ref 166938, on Iraq, how many meetings have taken place between the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) representatives and British military staff; what the dates and venues of the meetings were; how many reports have been produced by the ICRC as a result; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: There have been four visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross to the Divisional Temporary Detention facility (DTDF) in Shaibah. These all occurred in 2004: 10–12 February; 1–3 April; 14 May; and 17–19 May.
	In addition to these visits there have been four meetings between ICRC representatives and British military staff in 2003: 19–21 February; 28 May; 26 November; and 30 March 2004. These took place in the United Kingdom and Europe.
	As well as the interim report produced on 10 February 2004 there have been two working papers produced by the ICRC following their visits to the DTDF in April and May of this year.

Iraq

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's estimate is of the number of Iraqi (a) civilian casualties, (b) civilian deaths, (c) military casualties and (d) military deaths during coalition operations in Iraq.

Ivor Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 14 June 2004, Official Report, column 641W, to my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke).

Iraq

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many qualified medical staff are employed at the British military detention centre in Iraq; what procedures are followed when a prisoner wishes to seek medical advice; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Medical cover is provided by the military unit responsible for the security of the Divisional Temporary Detention Facility and consists of a Regimental Medical Officer (RMO) and a compliment of Combat Medical Technicians.
	Internees seeking medical advice are assessed in the first instance by the RMO. If necessary they are referred to the Field Hospital, manned by approximately 150 qualified medical staff, that is available at the same location.

Iraq

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Iraqi prisoners held by United Kingdom forces in Iraq since the invasion have been released from custody without charge; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Up to the transition of authority on 28 June, British forces had the authority to intern people for imperative reasons of security in accordance with Article 78 of Geneva Convention IV. Since the 28 June, the authority to intern remains but it is in accordance with UNSCR 1546. In addition, British forces have the authority temporarily to detain people believed to have committed a crime under Iraqi law, who are then handed over to the Iraqi judicial system. It is the Iraqi authorities who are empowered to bring criminal charges.
	In total, some 3,000 individuals have been either released as former Prisoners of War or internees judged no longer to pose a threat, or passed to the Iraqi authorities as suspected criminals.

Iraq

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many attacks were made on British forces by Iraqi insurgents (a) in the five days leading up to the handover and (b) in the five days after the handover of sovereignty.

Ivor Caplin: During the week leading up to handover (28 June 2004) there were six attacks made on British forces by Iraqi insurgents and in the week after the handover there were nine attacks on British forces.

Iraq

John Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of UK forces in Iraq are reserves.

Adam Ingram: The precise number of personnel in the gulf fluctuates. As at 2 July approximately 15 per cent. of United Kingdom Forces deployed in Iraq are reservists.

Iraq

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost per week of reinstating the free postal packet scheme to Iraq for the duration of the present deployment; and how such costs are calculated.

Adam Ingram: When the Ministry of Defence carried out its reviews of the free postal packet service to Iraq set out in my answer to the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Randall) on 5 May 2004, Official Report, column 1527W, the costs reviewed were calculated per calendar month. Factors involved in the calculation of such costs were: payment to the Royal Mail Group (£88,000), the hire of extra equipment (£12,500) and the cost of civil charter should military transport be unavailable (£3 per kilogram). Based on historical data, a packet ratio of 0.2 kg per serviceman per day was assumed.
	The cost of extending the scheme in Iraq would cost approximately £290,000 per calendar month. In my answer to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 5 March 2004, Official Report, column 1155W, I stated that we could not justify continuance of the scheme to Iraq when other operational theatres were not in receipt of the service; therefore, further calculations for the Iraq theatre of operations alone were not made. The cost of extending the scheme to all Service personnel deployed on overseas operations would be approximately £380,000 per calendar month.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence he has studied in relation to the death of Rahim Hanoun Adiou.

Ivor Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to the formal response from my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces (Mr. Ingram) to allegations made by Amnesty International, including the death of Rahim Hanoun Adiou, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House on 2 July 2004.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he received representations warning about the dangers of hooding detainees prior to its prohibition on 26 September 2003.

Adam Ingram: Amnesty International's 23 July 2003 Report, "Iraq—Memorandum on concerns relating to law and order", made reference inter alia to the use of "prolonged hooding" by coalition forces and stated that this and other measures would amount to "torture or inhuman treatment". This was consistent with Amnesty's longstanding view that hooding is unacceptable in all circumstances.
	Although, hooding has been prohibited by the United Kingdom in the context of interrogations since the 1972 Heath Ruling, we consider that there are circumstances in which the temporary obscuring of a detainees vision is justified. For example, it may be necessary during the arrest and transit of prisoners to prevent them viewing sensitive information. Although the UK armed forces are currently under direction not to hood detainees in any circumstances, the use of hooding has not been ruled out in future conflicts.
	As I said in my response to a question from the hon. Member on 15 May 2004, Official Report, column 1235W, the practice of hooding was stopped in Iraq as a result of concerns that the inappropriate use of hooding could be dangerous.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions Major General Geoffrey Miller had with British service personnel during his stay in Iraq between 31 August and 9 September 2003.

Ivor Caplin: Major General Geoffrey Miller had no discussions with British service personnel during this time.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what involvement British (a) service personnel and (b) officials had in the drafting of interrogation regulations for Combined Joint Task Force 7.

Ivor Caplin: None. Interrogation regulations at the Multi National Force and Multi National Corps Headquarters (previously known as the Combined Joint Task Force HQ) were introduced by and for US personnel only.

Iraq

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Iraqi prisoners were held by British military authorities at the Iraq military detention centre on 1 July; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: On 1 July 2004, 41 men were held at the Divisional Temporary Detention Facility.

Iraq

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Iraqi (a) men and (b) women are held in United Kingdom-run prisoners in Iraq; and how many have been charged with a specific offence.

Adam Ingram: Up to the transition of authority on 28 June, British forces had the authority to intern people for imperative reasons of security in accordance with Article 78 of Geneva Convention IV. Since the 28 June, the authority to intern remains but it is in accordance with UNSCR 1546. In addition, British forces have the authority temporarily to detain people believed to have committed a crime under Iraqi law, who are then handed over to the Iraqi judicial system. It is the Iraqi authorities who are empowered to bring criminal charges.
	As at 18 July, 25 male internees were held at the Divisional Temporary Detention Facility, and no female internees.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of manuals issued to British armed forces providing guidelines for those given responsibility to interrogate detainees or prisoners of war.

Adam Ingram: Guidance for those with responsibility for interrogation of detainees and Prisoners of War is contained within a number of training directives. I am withholding publication of these directives in the Library of the House under Exemption la of the Code of Practice for Access to Government Information.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  pursuant to his answer to question 169404, what the names are of the three individuals who died of gunshot wounds; what the name is of the person who died in detention; and how much compensation was paid in each case;
	(2)  what the names are of those deceased individuals in Iraq whose families' claims have been rejected;
	(3)  what the names are of those deceased individuals in Iraq whose families' claims for compensation are still being considered.

Adam Ingram: I am withholding the information requested in accordance with Exemption 12 (Privacy of an Individual) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information which relates to unwarranted disclosure to a third party of personal information about any person (including a deceased person) or any other disclosure which would constitute or could facilitate an unwarranted invasion of privacy.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has examined in relation to the deaths of (a) Ammar Shakir Mahmoods, (b) Hussam Salih Owaid, (c) Jawad Gadhim Bahidh, (d) Ameen Ajman Ismail, (e) Ali Gadhim Slamkh, (f) Asrad Gadhim Jassim and (g) Ahmed Kareen Ali.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 20 July 2004
	The deaths of all of the individuals referred to in the question have been raised in correspondence by Public Interest Lawyers (PIL) addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 13 July.
	There is an ongoing Special Investigations Branch investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Ahmed Kareen Ali (Ahmed Jabbar Kareem Ali). Ministers receive a summary of the status of such investigations.
	The death of Ahmed Kareen Ali has also been raised by PIL in judicial review proceedings brought against the Department and by Amnesty International in their letter to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister of 14 May 2004.
	The death of Asrad Gadhim Jassim (As'ad Kadhem Jasem) was also raised by Amnesty International.
	I placed a copy of our response to this and other correspondence from Amnesty International in the Library of the House of Commons on 2 July 2004.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes he has proposed to the way in which UK forces keep Iraqi prisoners; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Guidance on prisoner handling is contained in Joint Warfare Publication 1 to 10 (Prisoner of War Handling). It emphasises that prisoners are at all times to be treated in accordance with the relevant Geneva protocols.
	We keep the procedures for prisoner handling in Iraq under constant review but there are no amendments currently planned to the Standard Operating Instructions. The only amendment to the SOIs to date was in September 2003 when instructions were issued that all prisoner hooding was to cease.
	A number of minor changes have been made to the procedures in place at the UK's Temporary Divisional Detention Facility in Shaibah, including for example adapting the arrangements for internees' laundry and meeting some dietary requirements stemming from religious beliefs.

Iraq

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many persons captured by UK forces in Iraq and subsequently transferred to US control are being held by the United States (a) inside and (b) outside Iraq; and if he will make a statement on the UK's obligations towards such persons.

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Government has taken in fulfilment of the UK's international obligations to assess the conditions of imprisonment of the prisoners captured by British forces in Iraq and handed to the US.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 17 May 2004
	In Iraq, 341 Prisoners of War were handed over to the United States in April 2003, all but three were subsequently released by the US. Two, classed as high value detainees, have now been arraigned before an Iraqi judge and transferred to Iraqi custody and one was reclassified as a security internee and his case is under consideration by the Central Criminal Court of Iraq. We have also detained around 2,000 security internees since the end of the conflict. Between April 2003 and December 2003, these were held by the US. All but one of those individuals were either returned to United Kingdom custody or released. Under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding we put in place with the US, which covered the transfer of detainees, the US are required to seek permission from the UK to remove from Iraq UK captured persons in their detention. No such requests have been made.
	The UK has fulfilled all its obligations towards such individuals in accordance with the Geneva Conventions. Between May and December 2003 almost all UK detainees, both Prisoners of War and security internees, were held by US Forces at Camp Bucca in Southern Iraq. During this period there was a continuous UK presence at the Camp in the shape of a UK Prisoner of War Registration Unit and a Prisoner Monitoring Team. The monitoring team regularly inspected prisoner conditions and monitored family visits and the release of UK prisoners. The majority of early detainees were released during this period. The remainder were transferred to the UK custody with the opening of the UK's Divisional Temporary Detention Facility at Shaibah in December 2003.
	The two UK prisoners of war, classed as high value detainees, were held by US forces at a different site. Although the UK did not maintain a permanent presence at the internment facility where they were held, reports were obtained on their conditions.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those deaths mentioned in the Amnesty International report on civilian deaths in Basra published on 11 May which are or have been the subject of a formal investigation, giving the stage reached by the investigation in each case.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 20 May 2004
	I refer the hon. Member to the formal response from my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces (Mr. Ingram) to the allegations made by Amnesty International, a copy of which I placed in the Library of the House on 2 July 2004. The stage reached by the investigations remains as stated in the response.

Iraq

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how often the cases of Iraqi prisoners being held in United Kingdom-run prisons in Iraq are reviewed; and by whom.

Ivor Caplin: The only such facility run by the United Kingdom in Iraq is the Divisional Temporary Detention Facility in Shaibah. The Divisional Internee Review Committee considers cases at intervals often days, 28 days, three months and six months, and thereafter every three months. The Review Committee consists of Staff Officers from Army and tri-Service Legal and intelligence Branches, Provost Marshall and the Commanding Officer of DTDF. They make a recommendation to the General Officer Commanding MND(SE), with whom the final decision lies.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received about the death of civilians in Amarah, Iraq as a consequence of a UK armed forces helicopter strike; if he will investigate whether (a) this strike and (b) air strikes generally in areas where civilians live are a proportionate or proper response to a local disturbance including that involving the firing of guns by Iraqi militiamen; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: We are not aware of any allegations of civilian deaths caused by air strikes conducted by United Kingdom helicopters in Al Amarah since the end of major combat operations.
	During the warfighting and subsequent phases of Operation Telic, every effort has been made to minimise the impact of military operations on the Iraqi civilian population. For UK air operations, the targeting process has a hierarchical approvals system and includes stringent controls. At each level, UK Commanders, with legal advisors present, applied the relevant articles of the 1977 Geneva Protocol 1 to the Geneva Conventions (1949) which applies to targeting. In each case when attacks were approved, the UK Commander will have determined that legal requirements of necessity and distinction were met, and that estimated civilian casualties or damage were not excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage that the attack was expected to produce.

Future Joint Combat Aircraft

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the requirement for the Future Joint Combat Aircraft is dependent on the procurement of 50–60,000 tonne aircraft carriers; and what effect changes to the displacement of the future carriers would have on the requirement for the number of Joint Combat Aircraft.

Ivor Caplin: The physical size of any aircraft carrier will limit the maximum number of aircraft that can operate from it. The Department has not sought to fix the dimensions of the aircraft carriers during the assessment phase. The design of the ships will continue to evolve as we seek to balance the overall performance, time and cost parameters of this complex project as part of normal assessment phase activity. Decisions on the capability to be provided by CVF, including the number of aircraft capable of being deployed, will be taken at the Main Gate investment point.

Military Companies

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many approvals were given to armed forces personnel to take up appointments with military companies in each year from 1995, broken down by rank of personnel.

Ivor Caplin: The rules on acceptance of appointments by Crown servants (the "Business Appointment Rules") require all officers in the armed forces, in certain circumstances, to apply for permission before taking up an appointment with an outside organisation.
	Due to a technical problem, complete information on the number of applications made by officers in the armed forces to join military (defence-related) companies since 1995 is not currently available. The information set out in the table covers only the period from 1 January 1999 to the end of June 2004. I shall write to the hon. Member with the remaining details as soon as they become available.
	
		
			  1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Navy   
			 Admiral 2 0 0 3 2 3 
			 Vice Admiral 0 2 0 4 0 0 
			 Rear Admiral 3 6 3 3 3 1 
			 Commodore 2 2 4 2 8 2 
			 Captain 2 0 3 2 1 0 
			 Commander 9 5 1 10 5 5 
			 Lt. Command 7 6 10 8 17 1 
			 Lieutenant 1 1 3 2 1 0 
			 Army   
			 General 1 3 3 2 1 0 
			 Lt. General 4 10 0 0 0 1 
			 Major General 5 1 9 3 1 1 
			 Brigadier 7 7 4 5 4 4 
			 Colonel 1 0 6 1 3 5 
			 Lt. Colonel 4 19 6 7 3 2 
			 Major 4 3 10 3 4 6 
			 Captain 1 1 4 0 0 2 
			 Lieutenant 0 0 2 0 1 0 
			 RAF   
			 Air Chief Marshall 0 9 1 1 1 0 
			 Air Marshal 3 0 8 2 2 0 
			 Air Vice-Marshall 1 13 6 7 5 2 
			 Air Commodore 8 4 8 3 7 3 
			 Group Captain 5 6 3 7 10 5 
			 Wing Commander 24 7 10 22 16 10 
			 Squadron Leader 9 11 7 8 8 2 
			 Flt. Lieutenant 5 2 6 2 3 3 
		
	
	It is not known how many appointments were taken up.

Mr. Rhadi Numa

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Mr. Rhadi Numa suffered (a) physical and (b) mental duress prior to his heart attack.

Adam Ingram: The Special Investigation Branch of the Royal Military Police concluded that Mr. Rhadi Numa had not suffered any form of mistreatment while in military custody.

Naval Dockyards (Radiation Monitoring)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures are in place for the secondary monitoring of radiation at naval dockyards.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 16 June 2004, Official Report, columns 938–939W, to the hon. Member for Mid Bedfordshire (Mr. Sayeed) and on 10 June 2004, Official Report, column 599W to the hon. Member for Moray (Angus Robertson). The measures, as described, are in place at the Naval Bases and Devonport Royal Dockyard, which is privately owned.

Parliamentary Questions

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will write to the hon. Member for East Carmarthen and Dinefwr pursuant to his answer to question ref. 136924.

Adam Ingram: I wrote to the hon. Member on 7 April 2004 and a copy of my reply was placed in the Library of the House.

PFI/PPP Contracts

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what public safeguards his Department builds into its (a) private finance initiative and (b) public private partnership contracts to prevent the private sector partner from taking excess profits by way of re-financing schemes.

Adam Ingram: Since November 2000, it has been the Ministry of Defence's policy, in common with other Government Departments, that all Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts and those Public Private Partnership contracts involving the use of private finance, must contain legally binding conditions whereby any gains from refinancing are shared with the MOD on an equal basis. For contracts signed before November 2000 this right is obtained under a code of conduct agreed with industry.

PFI/PPP Contracts

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contractual steps his Department plans to take to prevent (a) private finance initiative and (b) public private partnership partners from selling on their stakeholding.

Ivor Caplin: In common with other government departments, the Ministry of Defence does not seek to restrict unnecessarily the shareholders in Private Finance Initiative (PFI) and Public Private Partnerships (PPP) projects from transferring or selling their equity stakes to another commercial entity. Such restrictions would constrain the availability of capital for such projects and therefore adversely affect value for money. Exceptions to this can be made during the construction/introduction to service phase when some restrictions may be placed on sales or transfers of equity from shareholders who are also key subcontractors, as these might have an adverse impact on the success of the project. Additionally, provisions are usually included in MOD PFI and PPP contracts which place an obligation on the service provider and its shareholders to obtain the MOD's consent to any sale or transfer. This is to prevent any transfer that might be prejudicial to the national interest, e.g. for reasons of national security.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel are being treated for post traumatic stress disorder after serving in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many British troops who have served in Iraq have been found to be suffering from post traumatic stress disorder;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the percentage of troops who have returned from Iraq who are suffering from mental health problems.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer Tuesday 8 June 2004
	Over the period January 2003 to February 2004, the latest dates for which figures are available, 461 military personnel who served in Iraq were recorded as having experienced mental health problems. This represents 0.7 per cent. of those who had returned from deployment to Iraq at that time. Of these, 52 personnel were codified, under the International Codification of Disease system, as having Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Prisons

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) men and (b) women who have been held in British-run military and civilian prisons have been released during the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The only such facility run by the UK in Iraq is the detention facility in Shaibah, which opened in December 2003. Since then 274 men and one woman have been released.

Private Finance Initiative

John Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total value of private finance initiative contracts used by his Department was in 2003.

Adam Ingram: The total capital value of private finance initiative contracts that were live during 2003 was £3,828 million.
	The payments made by the Ministry of Defence during the financial year 2002–03 in respect of private finance initiative transactions was £542 million. Further information is available in the MOD's Annual Report and Accounts 2002–03 which is published on the MOD's website www.mod.uk or from HMSO.

RAF Menwith Hill

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many visits to RAF Menwith Hill were made by US personnel not resident or working on the base during 2002–03.

Adam Ingram: During 2002–03 there were many visits to RAF Menwith Hill by US personnel. These ranged from VIP visits to short term visits associated specifically with work on various aspects of the Menwith Hill mission. The exact number of visits is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

RAF Menwith Hill

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether requests for visits to RAF Menwith Hill are determined by his Department; and what discussions take place with the US authorities before the response to individual requests is determined.

Adam Ingram: Her Majesty's Government retains control over the use of facilities at RAF Menwith Hill. Therefore any decision on who can and cannot visit RAF Menwith Hill, as well as other United States Visiting Force (USVF) bases, rests with the Government.
	All requests by MPs to visit RAF Menwith Hill are referred to Defence Ministers. Due to national security considerations, visits to RAF Menwith Hill are restricted to those with an official oversight function such as Government Ministers and the members of the all-party Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC). US authorities have no part in this decision making process.
	Working visits to the base by military and civilian staff are approved locally by the RAF Station Commander.

RAF Menwith Hill

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rules of engagement (a) the American National Guard and (b) the US security police personnel apply concerning peaceful protesters found at RAF bases where they are stationed.

Ivor Caplin: It is not our practice to comment on UK Rules of Engagement or those of our US allies and the information is therefore withheld under Exemption 1 (Defence, Security and International Relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

RAF Menwith Hill

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures have been agreed between the US visiting forces and personnel and the Ministry of Defence Police Agency to deal with peaceful protesters at RAF Menwith Hill.

Adam Ingram: Peaceful protesters detected at RAF Menwith Hill are dealt with by Ministry of Defence Police using their powers according to their statutory office of Constable.

RAF Menwith Hill

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF apprentices are (a) on secondment and (b) in training at RAF Menwith Hill; what the nature is of that training; and who is funding the training.

Ivor Caplin: The RAF apprentice scheme ceased in 1993.

Retirement Age

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether (a) his Department and (b) agencies for which it is responsible (i) have a set retirement age which applies to all or most personnel and (ii) have a maximum age beyond which applications for employment will not be considered; and what the age is in each case.

Ivor Caplin: In the Ministry of Defence and its Agencies over half of the civilian workforce has the option to retire any time between 60 and 65. The remainder, which encompasses most of those in management, professional and specialist grades, are normally required to retire at age 60. Extensions beyond normal retirement age are exceptional and for business reasons only, however, as detailed in the Civil Service Management Code, the maximum age at which staff must retire is 70.
	There is no age limit set beyond which applications will not be considered. Applications for employment take account of whether the individual has the necessary competencies and skills required for the vacancy. The Department will also consider whether the successful applicant will provide a suitable return on the cost of employing and training the individual before they retire.

Royal Air Force

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the irreducible manpower level is that needs to be maintained by the Royal Air Force such that an independent operational capability can continue for the UK.

Adam Ingram: The RAF's requirement for trained manpower is dependant on a number of factors including changing commitments, both at home and abroad, the types of operations we may have to take in the foreseeable future and the introduction of new aircraft types and equipment. I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Hoon) on 21 July 2004, Official Report, columns 343–70, which set out the future manpower requirements of the armed forces.

Royal Navy (Drug Enforcement)

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of the Royal Navy in the Caribbean and the deployment of HMS Monmouth in the fight against international drug trafficking.

Adam Ingram: A Royal Navy ship, together with a royal fleet auxiliary support tanker, is allocated to the Atlantic Patrol Task (North) (APT(N)). The APT(N) duty ship provides a tangible presence in the Caribbean area of responsibility including throughout the hurricane season (May to November). For the remainder of the year they remain within 14 days sailing. APT(N) provides security to United Kingdom overseas territories including support to humanitarian operations and disaster relief. APT(N) also makes a major contribution as one element of HMG's broader counter-drugs activity and promotes UK interests in the region, supporting defence relations and military training assistance and the wider defence diplomacy effort through a series of high-profile port visits.
	After six months as APT(N) ship, five of which were within the Caribbean AOR, HMS Monmouth handed over duties to HMS Richmond on 12 July and is currently en route home. During her deployment HMS Monmouth made two successful interdictions of suspected drug smugglers using "go fast" boats. While the contraband was jettisoned by the smugglers before being apprehended, it is thought that 150–200 kg of cocaine was removed from circulation in each operation.

Saudi Armed Forces Project

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the whole-time equivalent staffing of the Saudi Armed Forces Project Office in his Department was over the past five years; what secondments to and from the Office have taken place in that period; and to which agencies or enterprises.

Adam Ingram: The number of full-time staff employed on 31 March of each of the past five years was as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2000 173 
			 2001 185 
			 2002 180 
			 2003 180 
			 2004 166 
		
	
	There were no secondments to or from the Saudi Armed Forces Project Office during this period.

Seyntex

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the performance of Seyntex in relation to his Department's contracts for Battlefield Support Section.

Adam Ingram: The Battlefield Support Section of the Engineer Systems Support Integrated Project Team has placed a total of four contracts with Seyntex. The company has performed satisfactorily, aside from one incident where some tents were rejected following routine quality control checks. Corrective action was taken by the company and, as far as we are aware, no defective tents entered service.

Sonar 2087

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what (a) research and (b) evaluation his Department has carried out on the likely impacts on marine wildlife of the trials of Sonar 2087 in the North West Approaches of the UK;
	(2)  how detailed environmental reports from the trials of Sonar 2087 will be used better to protect cetaceans;
	(3)  what plans he has to prepare a report on the environmental observations resulting from the trials of Sonar 2087; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence has a continuing programme of research into the effects of active sonar generally. This work is intended to inform Environmental Impact Assessments on marine environments in which sonars might be used by the Royal Navy, rather than in the specific context of United Kingdom territorial waters.
	The environmental data gathered during the recent trial of Sonar 2087 in the UK's North West Approaches are being analysed and evaluated to determine the effectiveness of the monitoring and mitigation methods that were put in place and whether any changes are necessary for future trials and/or training activity. We plan to publish a report. I will place a copy in the Library of The House.

Suez Canal Zone Clasps

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Suez Canal Zone clasps have been awarded to people who served in the Zone with the Royal Signals; and whether applications for the clasps first submitted in November 2003 are being dealt with.

Ivor Caplin: I refer the hon. Gentlemen to the answer I gave to the House on 19 July 2004, Official Report, columns 1–3, to my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen).

Tarik S. Mahmud

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Tarik S. Mahmud was (a) a prisoner of war and (b) a civilian arrested during combat.

Ivor Caplin: Tarik S. Mahmud was detained by the United Kingdom forces in April 2003. At the time of his detention it was not known whether he was a Prisoner of War or a security internee. In accordance with Article 5 of Geneva Convention III his status would have to be officially determined and recorded but he died before this could be undertaken.

Textile Contracts

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of departmental contracts over £250,000 for textile items went to (a) UK companies manufacturing (i) inside and (ii) outside the UK and (b) EU companies manufacturing in the EU in the latest year for which figures are available.

Ivor Caplin: During the period of the last twelve months there have been 21 clothing contracts let over the value of £250,000. This breaks down as follows:
	
		
			 (a) UK Manufacturer 17 
			 of which:  
		
		
			 (i) Inside UK percentage 68 
			 (ii) Outside UK percentage 32 
		
	
	
		
			 (b) EU Manufacturer 4 
			 of which:  
		
		
			 (i) Inside EU percentage 17.5 
			 (ii) Outside EU percentage 82.5

Theatre Missiles

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what theatre missile defence capacity UK forces (a) have available now and (b) plan to have available; and over what timescale.

Adam Ingram: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 9 March 2004, Official Report, column 1403–04W. We expect to receive the report on the MOD's three year research programme into Theatre Ballistic Missile Defence soon. The UK is continuing to address the risks posed by ballistic missiles and to remain abreast of the technologies available to counter them. We are active members of the NATO Missile Defence Project Group which, with the encouragement of the Istanbul Summit discussions, is currently planning the first stages of work under the NATO Active Layered Theatre Ballistic Missile Defence programme. Decisions on the extent of UK involvement in this important research have yet to be taken and release of the NATO Staff Requirement for this capability to NATO industries has just been agreed.

Timber (Sustainable Sources)

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what timbers will be used in the pre-fabricated barracks to be built at (a) Aldershot and (b) Salisbury Plain; and what steps will be taken to ensure that timber used at the barracks will come from (i) legal and (ii) sustainable sources.

Ivor Caplin: Although it is too early in the design development process to say what specific type of timbers will be used, any new buildings in Aldershot or Salisbury Plain constructed under the Allenby/Connaught Project will adhere to Sustainable Development principles and Environmental Management Systems. This will include assessment of accommodation in accordance with the Building Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM).

Welsh Regiments

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to change the number of Welsh regiments; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The Defence White Paper published last December established the policy context for shaping the future structure of our armed forces. For the Army, it outlined the vision of a more balanced force that is flexible, rapidly deployable and sustainable for the variety of operational tasks that we envisage it undertaking.
	Against this policy guidance, we have been working through the detailed implications for the Army's force structure. We anticipate being in a position to make announcements about the conclusions of this work later in the year.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Data Protection

Harry Cohen: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs when he expects the legislation on the offence concerning Enforced Subject Access in the Data Protection Act 1998 to come into force.

Christopher Leslie: Section 56 of the Data Protection Act 1998, which gives effect to the enforced subject access provisions, will be brought into force when the arrangements for the issue of certificates of criminal conviction under Part V of the Police Act 1997 are fully in place.

Data Protection

Harry Cohen: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what representations he has received from the European Commission on Directive 95/46/EC and the Data Protection Act 1998.

Christopher Leslie: The European Commission has completed its initial consideration of the way in which all Member States have implemented the Data Protection Directive. The Commission has communicated its views on the UK's implementation to the Government. These views are now being considered and will be the subject of further discussion with the Commission.

Asylum Appeals

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many of the appeals in asylum cases for which legal aid had been provided failed in each year since 1997; and for what reasons.

David Lammy: Information on asylum appeal outcomes from 1997 is published in the Home Office annual statistical bulletin Asylum Statistics United Kingdom. Copies are available in the Library of the House. Information on asylum appeal outcomes since 2002 is published quarterly.
	Before January 2000 public funding was not available for representation at immigration and asylum appeals. We are currently establishing systems to record how many of the applications funded by legal aid are successful. The reasons for the dismissal of an appeal are not recorded centrally.

Community Legal Service Budget

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much of the Community Legal Service budget for 2004–05 is designated to each area of activity, expressed (a) as a proportion and (b) in monetary value.

Christopher Leslie: The following table shows the amount, in resource terms, that the Community Legal Service has been designated by the Treasury for 2004–05, split by civil and immigration work.
	
		
			 CLS Budget Resource (£ million) Percentage 
		
		
			 Civil representation 593.62 79.40 
			 Immigration 153.62 20.60 
			 Total 747.24 100.00

Data Sharing

Harry Cohen: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if he will publish a data-sharing bill; and how his data-sharing policy takes account of (a) the proposed identity card and (b) the population register being established by the Registrar General.

Christopher Leslie: The Government have no plans to publish a general data-sharing bill. The Government's overall approach to data sharing is set out in the document "Public Sector Data Sharing: Guidance on the Law", which was published by my Department in November 2003. The proposed identity card scheme and the Registrar General's proposals for a possible population register are fully compatible with the framework set out in that document.

Departmental Annual Report

Vincent Cable: To ask the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many copies of the Department's and its predecessor Department's annual report were printed in each year since 1997; how many were sold in each year; and what the (a) publication costs and (b) sales revenue were.

Christopher Leslie: The information is set out in the table as follows. Costs of printing and publication are met directly by the publisher, TSO (The Stationery Office Limited) and do not fall to DCA. In return the Publisher retains the revenues which they earn from sales and which are aimed at ensuring recovery of their costs. The Department's Annual Report is also available on the Department's website free of charge at www.dca. gov.uk/department/report2004/dca2004.pdf. Web visits to the report since April 2004 number approximately 1,022.
	
		
			  Quantity printed Quantity sold (a) Publication costs(12)(£) (b) Sales revenue 
		
		
			 1997 The Stationery Office advise that statistics are no longer available. 
			 1998 2, 3— 990 13,500 (13)— 
			 1999 (13)— 1,045 8,715 (13)— 
			 2000 (13)— 932 14,615 (13)— 
			 2001 (13)— 1,079 12,100 (13)— 
			 2002 (13)— 1,726 28,800 (13)— 
			 2003 (13)— 1,576 20,460 (13)— 
			 2004 (13)— (14)1,010 35,220 (13)— 
		
	
	(12) Cost for design, photography, typesetting and web conversion. Does not include cost to purchase copies from TSO.
	(13) Not available from TSO.
	(14) Commercial-in-confidence to TSO.
	(15) Based on sales profile from previous years TSO expects to sell a further 100 copies in 2004.

Departmental Vehicles

David Kidney: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many road vehicles are operated by the Department and its agencies; how many personal injury accidents involving road vehicles operated by the Department have occurred within each of the last five years; and what the Department's policy is for managing work-related road safety.

Christopher Leslie: My Department and its agencies currently have a total of 559 road vehicles within its fleet.
	The provision of vehicles for ministers and the judiciary is through the use of The Government Car and Dispatch Agency, who will provide a response separately.
	Within each of the last five years, the number of personal injury accidents involving road vehicles operated by my Department are recorded as follows:
	1999–2000—9
	2000–01—12
	2001–02—5
	2002–03—11
	2003–04—5
	My Department's road safety policy is currently covered by the general duty of care within the Department's main Health and Safety policy.

Duty Solicitor Scheme

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will identify the (a) cost and (b) number of hours claimed for under the duty solicitor scheme in (i) police stations and (ii) magistrates' courts in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: The table shows the cost under the duty solicitor scheme of work carried out in police stations and magistrates' courts. The LSC records the total costs claimed and then reviews the number of hours on audit. It is not possible to calculate the number of hours from the figures because different combinations of rates are claimed.
	
		£ million
		
			  Police station duty solicitor scheme Magistrates' court duty solicitor scheme 
		
		
			 1997–98 100 15.22 
			 1998–99 105.11 16.18 
			 1999–2000 109.07 25.39 
			 2000–01 117.34 (16)48.78 
			 2001–02 (17)154.39 27.86 
			 2002–03 168.76 24.21 
			 2003–04 175.51 23.68 
		
	
	(16) From November 1999 the duty solicitor payment system was also used to make payments to solicitors attending Early First Hearings and Early Administrative Hearings, resulting in sharp increases in both the number and average cost of claims paid. However, when the LSC introduced contracting in 2001 it split this work out from the court duty solicitor role, therefore the costs decreased.
	(17) From the introduction of contracting in April 2001, claims were consolidated so that the police station claims also included all other pre-charge work, not just advice and assistance at the police station.

Employment Tribunals

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many cases against the Department, the agencies for which it is responsible and its predecessor organisations have been brought to employment tribunals in each year since 1997 in relation to (a) equal pay, (b) sex discrimination, (c) race discrimination, (d) disability discrimination and (e) unfair dismissal; how many cost awards were made against (i) respondents and (ii) applicants; and how much has been spent (A) settling and (B) contesting claims.

David Lammy: pursuant to his reply, 12 July 2004, Official Report, c. 972W
	I listed in my previous answer the total number of cases in respect of each type issued since 1997. This answer failed to list the numbers of cases by year. The breakdown of those cases by type and year is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  (a) Equal pay (b) Sex discrimination (c) Race discrimination (d) Disability discrimination (e) Unfair dismissal Total 
		
		
			 1997 — — 2 — 1 3 
			 1998 — — 1 2 5 8 
			 1999 — 9 1 8 8 26 
			 2000 — 2 2 4 2 10 
			 2001 — 2 4 2 5 13 
			 2002 — 20 4 2 8 34 
			 2003 1 — 1 3 7 12 
			 2004 — 1 — 1 5 7 
			 Total 1 34 15 22 41 113

Green Minister

John Horam: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on the activities of the Green Minister in the Department in financial year 2003–04.

Christopher Leslie: Lord Filkin is the Department for Constitutional Affairs Green Minister. In this role, Lord Filkin oversees work on sustainability within my Department and is also a member of the Ministerial Sub-Committee of Green Ministers.
	My Department is committed to continue working with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) on sustainable development and on achieving sustainability in all aspects of its work. To that end, it continues to progress action and respond positively to targets published by DEFRA against the strands of the "Framework for Sustainable Development in the Government Estate". As Green Minister, Lord Filkin oversees this work.
	My Department focuses its activities to meet targets set out by DEFRA. My Department has also continued with its programme of energy works, aimed at reducing emissions and energy use, and has set up electricity supplies so that it receives over 10 per cent. from renewable sources. A pilot of Environmental Management Systems has been established at key sites, and consideration will be given to extending this to other locations in the coming year. During the year my Department's Court Standards and Design Guide has been updated so that it better reflects our sustainability requirements by, for example, providing guidance on biodiversity and the need to aim for an "Excellent" BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) rating on all new court buildings. Lord Filkin has also overseen the development of a staff training programme that will increase awareness within the Department of sustainability issues.
	Looking more widely, my Department has a commitment to achieve sustainability in the delivery of its business through achieving its Public Service Agreement targets. These include ensuring effective delivery of justice, ensuring a fair and effective system of civil law, reducing social exclusion and increasing customer choice in legal services.

Legal Aid

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many firms have indicated to the Government in each of the last three calendar years that they plan to stop doing legal aid work.

David Lammy: The question cannot be answered in the terms specified, as the information is not held centrally.
	However information relating to firms which have had their contracts withdrawn since 2000 was provided in a previous parliamentary question answered on 21 July 2004, Official Report, column 375W.

Legal Aid

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will break down the cost of providing legal aid in immigration cases in each year since 1997 by (a) purpose for which aid was sought and (b) stage of process at which the application was made.

David Lammy: The Legal Services Commission is not able to provide the information in the format requested, as it does not differentiate between immigration and asylum cases.
	The total cost of providing legal aid for immigration and asylum matters in England and Wales for each financial year since 1997–98 was as follows:
	
		(18)£ million
		
			  Total cost 
		
		
			 1997–98 35.2 
			 1998–99 53.3 
			 1999–2000 61.4 
			 2000–01 81.1 
			 2001–02 129.4 
			 2002–03 176.2 
			 2003–04 200.5 
		
	
	(18) Net cash
	Records do not enable us to identify the point in the process at which funding was granted.

Policies (Environmental Impacts)

John Horam: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many new policy proposals or significant changes in policy were produced in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04; how many of these were screened for their environmental impacts; and how many were the subject of separate environmental appraisals.

Christopher Leslie: It is not possible to give figures for the number of new policy proposals or significant changes in policy that were produced in the two periods in question without incurring disproportionate cost.
	A Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) was required for all policy proposals or significant changes in policy produced in 2002–03 and 2003–04, which were likely to have a direct or indirect impact on business, charities and the voluntary sector. In accordance with Cabinet Office guidance, the RIA covered the full range of potential impacts on stakeholders—including environmental impacts where relevant.

Press Officers

Alan Duncan: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much his Department spent on press officers in (a) 1996–97 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available, broken down by grade.

Christopher Leslie: The Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) was created in June 2003. Figures are available for the period June 2003 to March 2004 only.
	
		£
		
			 Grade Numbers Total salaries(19) 
		
		
			 Span 9 (G6) 1 35,994 
			 Span 8 (G7) 2 64,325 
			 Span 7 (S10) 4 134,418 
			 Span 6 (10) 8 190,966 
		
	
	(19) June 2003 to March 2004
	These figures do not include the Director and Deputy Director of Communications, who speak to the media but on a far more infrequent basis than press officers.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Burma

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department has completed its review of the feasibility of funding aid for internally displaced persons in Burma; what consultations he has undertaken with ethnic relief teams which operate within the conflict zones of Burma in order to obtain their input into the review; and what assistance he will be providing for organisations whose levels of accountability are not yet to the standards required by his Department so that they can improve their accountability in order to be eligible for UK funding.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: A review of DFID's role in meeting the needs of poor Burmese people on the Thai-Burma border is underway. Re-examining DFID's policy on providing cross-border assistance from Thailand to Burma was one part of the Mission's scope. A team recently visited the border as part of this work. During this Mission, the team met a large number of international agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations working on the border including some that provide programmes across the borders in Burma. I shall write to you with more information once the overall review has been completed.

Chad

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the state of supplies in refugee camps in Chad; when this assessment was last revised; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimate that there are currently 180,000 refugees in Chad. This figure comprises 140,000 in nine displaced persons camps in Chad and 40,000 near the border. UNHCR are co-ordinating the aid efforts of UN agencies and non-governmental organisations on the ground in Chad and supplies are being delivered by the World Food Programme (WFP) and NGOs. In the month of July, the WFP estimates that 1,889 tonnes of food was distributed to 134,000 refugees. The WFP report that they have one tonne of dehydrated milk and nine tonnes of High Energy Biscuits in reserve. The UN published an update on current funding for Chad on 27 July. This report states that, since September 2003, the international community has allocated £47 million to Chad, of which the UK has contributed £3 million (£2 million to UNHCR, £1 million to WFP). However, it also estimates that an additional £22 million is required.
	With the onset of the rains food, shelter and sanitation are the primary concerns. A UK assessment mission last visited Chad in April 2004. A further DFID/FCO Sudan Unit mission to Chad is planned for next week (w/c 2 August). They will liaise with the UNHCR to assess the current needs of the displaced persons in Chad and to review the relief operations so far. This mission will also consider further allocations of UK humanitarian assistance.

Departmental Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much was spent by (a) the Overseas Development Administration in 1996–97 and (b) the Department in the last year for which figures are available on (i) head-hunters and recruitment consultants and (ii) management consultants.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: In 2003–04 the Department spent £53,840 on a recruitment consultant to assist with our recruitment procedures. There was no similar expenditure in 1996–97 and no expenditure on head-hunters in either year.
	DFID's departmental expenditure on overall consultancy services is made available in "Statistics on International Development", Table 12. A copy of this publication is available in the Library of the House. We do not keep a central record of management consultants in particular and this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much was spent (a) by the Overseas Development Administration in 1996–97 and (b) by the Department in the latest accounting period for which figures are available on (i) mobile phones, (ii) hospitality, (iii) taxis and (iv) international travel.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: (a) Data for expenditure by the Overseas Development Administration by budget category for 1996–97 is not readily available and could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
	(b) Data for the latest accounting period of 2002–03 as set out by budget category is as follows:
	
		
			 2002–03 £000 
		
		
			 Entertainment 82 
			 Domestic and overseas travel inc. taxis 2,645 
		
	
	All expenditure on official entertainment is made in accordance with published Departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting.
	Figures for travel reflect all domestic and overseas travel, including expenditure on taxis. All official travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules contained in DFID's staff handbook, which reflects the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code.
	Recorded expenditure on mobile phones for 2002–03 is not readily available and could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Staff (Upper Age Limits)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether (a) his Department and (b) agencies for which it is responsible (i) have a set retirement age which applies to all or most personnel and (ii) have a maximum age beyond which applications for employment will not be considered; and what the age is in each case.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID staff below the Senior Civil Service can retire at age 60. However, they can also choose to work on until age 65 subject to their continued capability and satisfactory service. The normal retirement age for Senior Civil Servants is 60. But, DFID has the flexibility to retain members of the Senior Civil Service beyond age 60 if it is judged to be in the public interest and are satisfied about the fitness and efficiency of the individual to carry out his or her duties. Members of the Senior Appointments Selection Committee (SASC) Group retire at age 60 and DFID must obtain approval from the Cabinet Office before retaining staff in the SASC Group beyond this age.
	DFID welcomes job applications from people of all ages. However, applicants are expected to be able to give DFID several years' service, or complete a substantial amount of any fixed term appointment, before retirement. There is no upper age limit for consultants. Consultants have to be suitably qualified, experienced and in a suitable physical condition to ensure that they can comply with all of their obligations under the contract.

Green Minister

John Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the activities of the Green Minister in the Department in financial year 2003–04.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: In the past year, in my capacity as Green Minister, I have carried out the following:
	Agreed clearance of the Sustainable Development in Government report (SDiG) (02–03), noting that DFID was in the forefront of progress on achieving SDiG targets and objectives and giving a commitment to ensuring further progress.
	Written to Elliot Morley (Defra) on the following issues:
	The incorporation into the SDiG Framework of a target relating to Combined Heat and Power systems;
	Detailed response about how DFID is approaching the Sustainable Development agenda in policy-making.
	The Government response to the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee AC report "Greening Government 2003.
	DFID participation in the UN expert meeting on social issues in public procurement taking place in May.

HIV/AIDS

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development for what reason five of the planned guidance notes on the programmes designed to tackle HIV/AIDS have not yet been published by his Department.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: A large amount of information and guidance on HIV and AIDS is produced by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), other international bodies, other donors and researchers. The task is to ensure our staff are guided by the best possible information which already exists. DFID has therefore been developing an extensive web portal that will enable us to bring together a comprehensive and up to date range of information, for the use of DFID teams globally. This will be available to all UK staff in DFID, FCO and other government departments as well as our key partners in developing country governments and NGOs. It will be launched in August.
	DFID has been working with experts to develop new internal guidance on a range of areas. The areas where there is the greatest need—notably treatment and care—are also the most hotly debated issues among experts. In order to ensure a balanced response DFID has worked hard to articulate the most appropriate, evidence-based policy. Inevitably this has taken time and has been adapted as new initiatives evolve (such as the UNAIDS and WHO "3x5" target). DFID is therefore delighted that over the last few weeks the Department has published four new strategy and position papers: "Taking Action: The UK's Strategy for Tackling HIV and AIDS in the Developing World", "HIV and AIDS Treatment and Care Policy", "Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights—a position paper", and "Increasing Access To Essential Medicines in the Developing World".

Natural Resource Governance

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the importance of natural resource governance in developing countries; when this assessment was last revised; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his Department's policy is on the promotion of issues of natural resource governance; when this policy was initially drawn up; when it was last revised; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment his Department has made of the relevance of natural resource governance to armed conflicts in (a) Africa and (b) South America; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The Department for International Development (DFID) recognises that many of the poorest countries and the poorest people are highly dependent on natural resources for economic development and livelihoods. However, powerful groups sometimes deny poor people such access and revenues from natural resources—both renewable and non-renewable—have often fuelled conflict, corruption and exacerbated poverty. How natural resources are governed can fundamentally affect the contribution they make towards poverty reduction and sustainable development.
	The Prime Minister launched the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, September 2002. Its aim is to improve governance and accountability in countries with a high reliance on oil, gas and minerals by increasing transparency of payments by companies to governments, and transparency of revenues received by those governments. EITI is now being implemented in Nigeria, Azerbaijan, Ghana and the Kyrgyz Republic, with discussions taking place on implementation in a number of other countries including several in Africa and South America.
	DFID's assessment of the importance of natural resource governance in developing countries is carried out on a country-by-country basis, usually through poverty reduction strategies. DFID has supported work on natural resource governance in Cambodia, Cameroon, Ghana, Indonesia and a number of other countries through the Governance Learning Group.
	Some recent examples of governance programmes supported by DFID in the renewable natural resource sector include:
	support to regional forest law enforcement and governance (FLEG) processes in East Asia and Africa that help build awareness of governance problems, in particular illegal logging, and generate commitment to tackle them;
	an active role within the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) process. On 19 July the College of Commissioners adopted a package of proposals that includes a draft Regulation to control imports of illegally harvested timber into the single market;
	support to Global Witness to analyse and publish trends concerning the governance of natural resource extraction—in particular the forestry sector—in the Democratic Republic of Congo;
	support to the Overseas Development Institute to examine governance and poverty impacts of the illegal timber trade in Central America, with the aim of catalysing institutional and policy change by building awareness, dialogue and 'coalitions for change' among political institutions, government agencies, donors and civil society; and
	pathways for Environmental Action in Kenya (PEAK), a programme to enable local communities to better understand their rights and economic opportunities under new environment legislation.
	On the question of natural resource governance and armed conflict, responsibilities fall across Whitehall. DFID, the Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence collaborate on African conflict issues through a joint strategy called the Africa Conflict Pool. This has considered a range of natural resource and conflict issues within its work drawing on academic literature, the work of groups such as Global Witness and the work of various United Nations bodies.

Overseas Aid

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will break down by recipient country aid given by the UK in each of the last 10 years (a) in total and (b) as a percentage of total expenditure.

Hilary Benn: I have arranged for copies of a document entitled "Bilateral Aid by Country (Total Gross Public Expenditure)" to be placed in the Libraries of the House. This includes details of the aid given by the UK to each recipient country in each of the last 10 years up until 2002–03, the last full year for which we have final figures. It also provides details of the percentage of total bilateral UK aid for the relevant year.
	The UK also provides contributions to multilateral organisations from both DFID and the Government as a whole. By definition, this expenditure cannot be broken down by country as the UK contribution is pooled with those of other donors.

Overseas Aid

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the overseas aid budget expressed at today's prices was in each of the last 25 years; and what the projected budget is as a result of the Spending Review.

Hilary Benn: Expenditure on DFID programmes for the years 1978–79 to 2002–03, expressed in constant 2002–03 prices, is set out in the following table:
	
		£ million (constant 2002–03 prices)
		
			  Total DFID programmes 
		
		
			 1978–79 2,811 
			 1979–80 2,629 
			 1980–81 2,675 
			 1981–82 2,495 
			 1982–83 2,361 
			 1983–84 2,411 
			 1984–85 2,431 
			 1985–86 2,360 
			 1986–87 2,386 
			 1987–88 2,308 
			 1988–89 2,437 
			 1989–90 2,515 
			 1990–91 2,426 
			 1991–92 2,614 
			 1992–93 2,745 
			 1993–94 2,780 
			 1994–95 2,878 
			 1995–96 2,756 
			 1996–97 2,510 
			 1997–98 2,342 
			 1998–99 2,610 
			 1999–2000 2,783 
			 2000–01 2,946 
			 2001–02 3,002 
			 2002–03 3,313 
		
	
	Source:
	DFID's annual statistical report Statistics on International Development 1998–99 to 2002–03.
	As a result of Spending Review 2002 DFID's Resource Departmental Expenditure Limit rose from £3.596 billion in 2003–04 to £4.529 billion in 2005–06. This represented over 8 per cent. annual real growth for the Spending Review period.
	Spending Review 2004 provided another excellent settlement which demonstrated the Government's continuing commitment to tackling global poverty and the United Nation's 0.7 per cent. oda/GNI target. DFID's Resource Departmental Expenditure Limit will rise to £5.028 billion in 2006–07 and £5.323 billion in 2007–08. This represents 9.2 annual average real growth for the period of the Spending Review.

Overseas Aid

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much (a) monetary aid and (b) aid in kind his Department has (i) pledged and (ii) delivered to (A) the Philippines, (B) Romania and (C) Ukraine (1) in each financial year since 1997–98 and (2) in each month since January 2003; what new programmes his Department has (x) initiated and (y) funded in each country since January 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The following table shows what has been delivered to the Philippines, Romania and Ukraine in terms of aid in kind and monetary aid from 1997–98 to 2003–04 (latest figures). DFID does not keep monthly records of pledges or expenditures specifically in terms of aid-in-kind or monetary aid; DFID also does not keep records of how much has been pledged specifically in terms of aid in kind or monetary aid.
	
		Bilateral aid by country
		
			  Monetary aid Technical co-operation Aid and trade provision Grants and other aid-in-kind Humanitarian assistance(20) DFID debt relief 2 
		
		
			 Philippines  
			 1997–98 — 353 3,393 621 140 — 
			 1998–99 — 267 656 619 — — 
			 1999–2000 — 157 44 406 — — 
			 2000–01 — — 241 545 250 — 
			 2001–02(22) 3,692 64 163 228 — — 
			 2002–03 631 67 158 321 — — 
			 2003–04(23) 1,471 55 135 382 — — 
			
			 Romania  
			 1997–98 — 5,481 — 196 32 — 
			 1998–99 — 4,036 — 104 — — 
			 1999–2000 — 3,489 — 249 — — 
			 2000–01 — 3,180 — 258 — — 
			 2001–02(22) — 5,301 — 95 — — 
			 2002–03 — 5,798 — 300 50 — 
			 2003–04(23) — 4,503 — 90 — — 
			   
			 Ukraine  
			 1997–98 — 8,535 — 588 — — 
			 1998–99 — 8,111 — 502 — — 
			 1999–2000 — 7,856 — 586 — — 
			 2000–01 — 9,033 — 197 100 — 
			 2001–02(22) — 8,652 — 225 — — 
			 2002–03 — 7,684 — 204 2 — 
			 2003–04(23) — 6,295 — 166 — — 
		
	
	(20) Humanitarian assistance comprises food aid and other humanitarian assistance.
	(21) This comprises both interest and principal foregone under Retrospective Terms Adjustment. Amounts reported are repayments which would have fallen.
	(22) 2001–02 is a unique year in that total DFID expenditure is understated by around £140 million due to move to resource accounting. See glossary for details.
	(23) The figures for 2003–04 are provisional.
	Since 2003 DFID has committed a further £111,647 to support civil society organisations in the Philippines.
	The following are new programmes initiated and funded in Romania since January 2003; all are extensions of existing activities in Romania.
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 Social and Healthcare Linkages—To assist local authorities in the equitable and sustainable delivery and development of social and health care services 200 
			 Social Development Scheme Fund—To support social development, build social capital and contribute to poverty alleviation in the communities most affected by mining industry restructuring 200 
			 Social Development Strategy for Romanian Mining Regions—to support the "National Strategy for Mining Industry" through providing a social development strategy. 84 
			 Social Mitigation Strengthening Cohesion and Lesson Learning—To enhance the capacity of the National Agency for Mining through strengthening cohesion and lesson learning within the mining sector Social Mitigation Project 76 
			 Advisory support to the National Agency for Civil Servants (NACS)—To improve the Government's management of its civil servants by assisting the agency to clarify its role and function 134 
			 Assistance to National Agency for Civil Servants—Human resource Planning, Establishment Control and Pay Bill Modelling—to assist NACS gather and analyse the data required to formulate a Human Resource Plan, to determine the number and level of public positions and to formulate pay proposals for 2004. 30 
			 Technical Assistance to the General Secretariat of the Government for building a coherent Policy Making and an Accountable Administration—to assist the Unit for Policy Planning and General Secretariat in the design of institutional procedures of policy formulation, monitoring and evaluation. 65 
			 Public Admin Reform Strategy Adviser—The establishment of a strategic framework which clearly sets out Government public administration reform actions, and identifies the role of the EC, World Bank and other international organisations. 100 
			 Support to the National Co-ordinator and Romanian Commission for Poverty Prevention and Social Inclusion (CASPIS)—To strengthen understanding and strategic approach to poverty reduction, including support to the CASPIS Technical Secretariat, line ministries and at local level. 90 
			 Adviser on Anti-Poverty Strategies to CASPIS—to enhance capacity within CASPIS to adopt a strategic approach to poverty reduction policies and to promote the implementation of poverty reduction plans. 95 
			 Strategic Planning Support to the Romania Social Development Fund—(RSDF) to develop the sustainable capacity to measurably contribute towards national and/or local poverty alleviation and social inclusion plans. 90 
			 High Level Group for Romania Children Co-ordinator—To promote child rights and protection and the prevention of child abuse and neglect using an holistic approach in the broader context of child health and development. 42 
		
	
	The following are new programmes initiated and funded in Ukraine since January 2003.
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 Democratising Ukraine Project 1.5 
			 Lviv Economic and Social Development Project 1.46 
			 Ukraine Trade Policy Project 0.99 
			 World Bank Ukraine Social Investment Fund (DFID Technical Assistance Input) 0.3 
			 World Bank Public Administration Reform Programme (DFID TA Input) 0.3 
			 Support to Ministry of Education and Sciences (Part of UN global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS in Ukraine) 0.035 
			 HIV/AIDS Small Project Support 0.025

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Brent Council Properties

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what has been the cost to the London borough of Brent of vouchers given to tenants for refurbishment of Brent homes in each year since the scheme has been in operation; and for how many properties the vouchers were given each year.

Keith Hill: The London borough of Brent does not provide vouchers to tenants for the refurbishment of Brent owned homes. Vouchers for the decoration of council owned properties are issued in two instances:
	1. Void property—assistance can be given to a tenant moving into a new property.
	2. Decoration following Repair—in cases where we have damaged decorations whilst carrying out repairs.
	This scheme has been running since the late 1970s. Information on the costs of maintaining properties prior to 2001–02 is not available.
	The cost of the scheme and the numbers of properties refurbished over the last three years are as follows:
	2001–02: 553 properties at a cost of £54,450
	2002–03: 648 properties at a cost of £62,900
	2003–04: 591 properties at a cost of £52,700.

Brent Council Properties

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost of refurbishing and redecorating Brent council-owned homes was in each of the 10 years before the voucher scheme was introduced; and how many properties were refurbished and redecorated in each year.

Keith Hill: London Borough of Brent have advised that no records are held that could provide that information.

Departmental Buildings

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what (a) renovation and (b) maintenance projects on buildings (i) owned and (ii) rented by his Department were undertaken in each of the last five years; and what the associated costs were of each.

Phil Hope: pursuant to the reply, 4 May 2004, Official Report, c. 1433W
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established in May 2002. Since that date the following renovation and maintenance projects have been undertaken at the properties (i) owned and (ii) rented by the office. All figures are exclusive of VAT.
	
		£
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 
			  Renovation Maintenance Renovation Maintenance 
		
		
			 (i) Owned 
			 Burlington House 0 83,400 0 55,000 
			 QEIICC 29,000 139,418 1,853,300 3,127,511 
			 Fire Service College 230,257 108,097 956,008 182,151 
			 Government Office Network 0 0 0 0 
			  
			 (ii) Rented 
			 ODPM—HQ: 
			 Eland House 1,777,879 0 655,862 79,174 
			 Ashdown House 0 0 70,343 570,220 
			 Portland House 311,062 0 0 0 
			 PINS 0 0 0 109,316 
			 Fire Service Improvement—Marchington 0 42,416 13,318 52,766 
			 Valuation Tribunal 42,822 255,204 115,166 193,059 
			 Government Office Network 101,496 214,000 803,820 256,311 
			 Rent Service 976,000 89,500 118,000 218,500 
		
	
	With regard to the maintenance figures, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister records an item of work as a project if it exceeds £15,000. Work of lower value is funded from bulk maintenance. The number of projects has prevented detailing each, as this could have been provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The figures provided are gross expenditure and do not reflect receipts from other building occupants. Although the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has overall responsibility for the buildings occupied by Government offices, they carry out functions on behalf of 10 Departments.

Departmental Costs

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much his Department spent on (a) refurbishment and (b) office furniture in the last year for which figures are available.

Phil Hope: For information in respect of refurbishment, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today in respect of parliamentary question 180362.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not collect data on its expenditure on office furniture.

Departmental Costs

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the (a) running costs and (b) total expenditure of (i) the Greater London Authority, (ii) each of the Government offices for the regions, (iii) the regional observatories and regional intelligence groups and (iv) the regional housing boards was in each year since each was established.

Phil Hope: The Greater London Authority's net expenditure on services (excluding reserve transfers) since its establishment in May 2000 is as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2000–01 (24)20.5 
			 2001–02 32.9 
			 2002–03 45.5 
			 2003–04 (25)50.1 
			 2004–05 (26)63.3 
		
	
	(24) Part year only.
	(25) Provisional outturn.
	(26) Budget.
	Information about how much of this expenditure is specifically for running costs are not held by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
	The running costs for each Government Office for the period 1995-/96 until 2003–04, and their budgets for the current year, are detailed in the following table. The Government Offices now carry out activity on behalf of 10 Government Departments compared with four Departments in 1995–96. In 2002–03 they managed or influenced around £9 billion of Government expenditure broken down by region as follows: North East—£664 million; North West—£1,430 million; Yorkshire and the Humber—£l,036 million; West Midlands— £l,285 million; East Midlands—£428 million; East of England—£349 million; South West—£499 million; South East—£876 million; and London—£2,592 million.
	Regional observatories obtain their resources from a number of different sources and information about their running costs and expenditure are not held by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
	Regional Housing Boards' running costs are funded from the budgets of the core Board members: Government Offices, Regional Chambers/Assemblies, Regional Development Agencies, the Housing Corporation and English Partnerships. Information about their running costs are not held by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
	
		Government Office administrative running costs -- £000
		
			 Government Office 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 
		
		
			 North East 8,842.76 8,687.15 8,616.75 8,618.84 8,312.05 
			 North West 9,983.71 9,839.09 9,442.59 13,690.13 13,048.58 
			 Merseyside 4,753.84 4,349.95 4,199.53 12.24 — 
			 Total NW/M 14,737.55 14,189.04 13,642.12 13,702.37 13,048.58 
			 Yorks and Humber 9,060.51 8,765.04 8,475.01 8,683.92 8,888.68 
			 West Midlands 10,435.73 10,040.37 9,757.79 9,474.35 9,330.15 
			 East Midlands 7,116.85 6,616.67 6,436.24 6,754.39 6,951.28 
			 East 6,122.84 6,168.97 6,270.62 6,269.43 7,005.47 
			 South West 7,574.14 7,140.74 6,825.73 6,985.03 7,796.87 
			 South East 8,331.06 8,406.18 8,544.99 8,561.40 8,658.61 
			 London 11,106.26 14,106.47 13,458.82 13,238.12 13,715.79 
			 Total 83,327.70 84,120.63 82,028.07 82,287.85 83,707.48 
		
	
	
		
			 Government Office 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 1 
		
		
			 North East 8,197.33 9,002.29 9,954.46 12,164.59 14,771.21 
			 North West 13,651.03 15,344.87 15,523.52 16,744.59 18,111.38 
			 Merseyside — — — — — 
			 Total NW/M 13,651,03 15,344.87 15,523.52 16,744.59 18,111.38 
			 Yorks and Humber 9,357.48 10,036.85 10,943.77 12,344.06 13,352.37 
			 West Midlands 9,960.76 10,295.51 10,662.85 13,378.54 14,035.18 
			 East Midlands 7,335.77 8,244.80 8,713.24 10,955.39 11,461.01 
			 East 7,542.48 8,631.95 9,355.85 12,607.17 13,534.69 
			 South West 8,711.38 10,666.90 11,860.77 13,858.05 14,398.06 
			 South East 9,477.26 10,326.44 10,874.74 14,105.96 14,402.24 
			 London 13,860.98 13,161.20 14,038.84 16,649.56 18,141.31 
			 Total 88,094.47 95,710.81 101,928.04 122,807.89 132,207.45 
		
	
	(27) Allocations for 2004–05.
	Note:
	GO-North West and GO-Merseyside merged during 1998–99.

Departmental Costs

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much his Department spent on replacing light bulbs in the last year for which figures are available.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not collect data on this.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many mobile phones owned by his Department have been reported lost or stolen since 2001.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002. The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Refurbishment Costs

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much his Department and its predecessors spent on refurbishment of its buildings in each year since May 1997, broken down by building.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established in May 2002. Since that date the following has been spent on refurbishment. All figures are exclusive of VAT.
	
		£
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Portland House 311,062 0 
			 Eland House 1,777,879 655,862 
			 Ashdown House 0 70,343 
			 QEII Conference Centre 29,000 1,853,300 
			 Fire Service College 230,257 956,008 
			 Government Office North West—Sunley Tower 44,110 0 
			 Government Office South East—Bridge House 44,000 490,000 
			 Government Office London—Riverwalk House 8,500 97,000 
			 Government Office West Midlands—  Paradise Circus 4,886 23,820 
			 Government Office East Midlands—  The Belgrave Centre 0 193,000 
			 Fire Service Improvement—Marchington 0 13,318 
			 Valuation Tribunal Office Network 42,822 115,166 
			 Rent Service Office Network 976,000 118,000 
		
	
	The figures provided, which exclude VAT, are gross expenditure and do not reflect receipts from other building occupants.
	Although the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has overall responsibility for the buildings occupied by Government Offices, they carry out functions on behalf of 10 Departments.
	The Rent Service became an Executive Agency of the Department for Work and Pensions on 1 April 2004, but was part of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in the period in question.

Departmental Staff (Upper Age Limits)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether (a) his Department and (b) agencies for which it is responsible (i) have a set retirement age which applies to all or most personnel and (ii) have a maximum age beyond which applications for employment will not be considered; and what the age is in each case.

Phil Hope: The normal retirement age in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and its agencies is 60. Staff below the senior civil service may choose to continue in service until 65. Senior civil servants may exceptionally be invited to continue in service after 60 and other staff after 65.
	There is no set age limit beyond which staff will not be recruited.

Empty Houses

Steve Webb: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for how many empty houses his Department is responsible; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: The Fire Service College, an Executive Agency of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, owns 39 residential properties of which one is empty but is expected to be occupied by a member of staff on secondment by the end of July 2004.

Green Minister

John Horam: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the activities of the Green Minister in the Department in financial year 2003–04.

Phil Hope: As the Green Minister in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, I am a member of ENV, the Cabinet Committee on the Environment, and ENV(G), the Cabinet Sub-Committee of Green Ministers. I have also considered issues surrounding the ad hoc Ministerial Group on Climate Change and the Sustainable Building Task Group. However, it has been established practice under successive governments not to disclose information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees.
	I am a member of the Sustainable Development Task Force, and have attended its regular meetings. In February, I presented a paper, "Sustainable Communities", to the task force, which set out the many ways in which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's overarching aim of creating sustainable communities contributes to sustainable development.
	I also represent the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on the Ministerial Group for the Implementation of the Energy White Paper. I presented a paper to this group in October on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's contribution to this agenda, including energy efficiency and renewable energy.
	I am also the lead Minister on the Sustainable and Secure Buildings Bill.

Homelessness

David Davis: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many homeless people there were in the East Riding of Yorkshire in each of the past five years.

Phil Hope: Information collected about local authorities' actions under homelessness legislation is in respect of households, rather than persons. A summary of information reported by East Riding of Yorkshire district council about the number of households accepted under homelessness legislation as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, in each year since 1999–2000, is as follows.
	
		East Riding of Yorkshire DC homeless household acceptances
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1999–2000 305 
			 2000–01 289 
			 2001–02 361 
			 2002–03 516 
			 2003–04 459 
		
	
	Source:
	ODPM P1E homelessness returns (quarterly)

Homelessness

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister by what proportion the number of statutory homelessness acceptances changed between 1 May 1997 and 31 March 2004.

Phil Hope: Information about local authorities' actions under homelessness legislation is collected quarterly. Estimates of the number of households accepted as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need show an increase of 34 per cent. between 1997–98 (102,430) and 2003–04 (137,000).

Local Government Finance

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much central Government funding was provided for local government in each of the last 25 years, at today's prices.

Nick Raynsford: The amount of central Government funding provided for local government from 1981–82 to 2004–05, at 2003–04 prices, are shown as follows.
	
		Central Government funding
		
			  £ billion 
		
		
			 1981–82 26.336 
			 1982–83 25.280 
			 1983–84 24.788 
			 1984–85 24.411 
			 1985–86 22.729 
			 1986–87 22.468 
			 1987–88 22.655 
			 1988–89 21.973 
			 1989–90 20.962 
			 1990–91 33.660 
			 1991–92 42.175 
			 1992–93 43.799 
			 1993–94 42.657 
			 1994–95 43.438 
			 1995–96 42.614 
			 1996–97 42.480 
			 1997–98 41.566 
			 1998–99 42.595 
			 1999–2000 44.130 
			 2000–01 47.084 
			 2001–02 49.525 
			 2002–03 50.647 
			 2003–04(28) 53.135 
			 2004–05(28) 57.094 
		
	
	(28) Budget figures.
	Notes:
	1. Central Government funding consists of: 1981–82 to 1989–90: Aggregate exchequer grant 1990–91 onwards: revenue support grants, specific and special grants within AEF, community charge grant (1991–92), teachers pay award additional grant (1992–93), SSA reduction grant (1994–95 to 2001–02), police grant (1995–96 onwards), Central Support Protection grant (1999–2000 to 2001–02), General GLA grant (2000–01 onwards), and distributable amount from non-domestic pool (1990–91 onwards).
	2. Funding at 2003–04 prices have been calculated using Her Majesty's Treasury's GDP Deflator.

Ministerial Travel Costs

Roy Beggs: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total cost of air travel between Northern Ireland and Great Britain was for (a) Ministers and (b) officials in the Department in the last year for which figures are available.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not separately identify costs of air travel to different parts of the United Kingdom by officials and this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The total cost of air travel to Northern Ireland by Ministers in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was £903 in 2003–04.

Parish Councils

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will set out the powers and responsibilities of parish councils.

Nick Raynsford: Pursuant to my answer of 29 June 2004, Official Report, column 228W, in the following table are revised lists of parish council's main statutory functions.
	
		Powers and duties of parish councils
		
			 Function Powers and duties Statutory provisions 
		
		
			 Access land Power to enforce bye-laws made by another authority Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, s. 17 
			 Allotments Duty to provide allotments. Power to improve and adapt land for allotments, and to let grazing rights Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908, ss. 23, 26 and 42 
			 Baths and washhouses Powers relating to provision of public baths, washhouses and bathing huts Public Health Act 1936, ss. 221–223 and 225–227 
			 Burial grounds, cemeteries and crematoria Power to acquire and maintain Power to provide Power to agree to maintain monuments and memorials Power to contribute towards expenses of cemeteries Open Spaces Act 1906, Ss 9 and 10; Local Government Act 1972, s. 214; Parish Councils and Burial Authorities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1970, s. 1 Local Government Act 1972, s. 214(6) 
			 Bus shelters Power to provide and maintain shelters Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1953, s. 4 
			 Bye-laws Power to make bye-laws in regard to pleasure grounds Cycle parks Baths and washhouses Open spaces and burial grounds Mortuaries and post-mortem rooms Public Conveniences Public Health Act 1875, s. 164 Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, s. 57(7) Public Health Act 1936, s. 223 Open Spaces Act 1906, ss. 15 and 12 Public Health Act 1936, s. 198 Public Health Act 1936, s. 87 
			 Clocks Power to provide public clocks Parish Councils Act 1957, s. 2 
			 Closed churchyards Powers as to maintenance Local Government Act 1972, s. 215 
			 Commons Power for parish council to contribute to expense relating to scheme for the regulation and management of a common Commons Act 1899, s. 5 
			 Common pastures Powers in relation to providing common pasture Smallholdings and Allotments Act 1908, s. 34 
			 Conference facilities Power to provide and encourage the use of facilities Local Government Act 1972, s. 144 
			 Community centres Power to provide and equip buildings for use of clubs having athletic, social or recreational objectives Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 s. 19 
			 Crime prevention Powers to install and maintain equipment and establish and maintain a scheme for detection or prevention of crime Local Government and Rating Act 1997, s. 31 
			 Drainage Power to deal with ponds and ditches Public Health Act 1936, s. 260 
			 Entertainment and the Arts Provision of entertainment and support of the arts Local Government Act 1972, s. 145 
			 Financial assistance Duty to require information Local Government Act 1872, s. 137A 
			 General powers Power to incur expenditure for certain purposes Local Government Act 1972, s. 137 
			 Gifts Power to accept Local Government Act 1972, s. 139 
			 Highways Power to maintain footpaths and bridle-ways Power to light roads and public places Provision of litter bins Powers to provide parking places for bicycles and motor-cycles, and other vehicles Power to enter into agreement as to dedication and widening Power to provide roadside seats and shelters Consent of parish council required for ending maintenance of highway at public expense, or for stopping up or diversion of highway Power to complain to highway authority as to unlawful stopping up or obstruction of highway or unlawful encroachment on roadside wastes Power to provide traffic signs and other objects or devices warning of danger Power to plant trees and lay out grass verges etc. and to maintain them Highways Act 1980, ss. 43, 50 Parish Councils Act 1957, s. 3; Highways Act 1980, s. 301 Litter Act 1983, ss. 5,6 Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, ss. 57, 63 Highways Act 1980, ss. 30, 72 Parish Councils Act 1957, s. 1 Highways Act 1980, ss. 47, 116 Highways Act 1980, s. 130 Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, s. 72 Highways Act 1980, s. 96 
			 Investments Power to participate in schemes of collective investment Trustee Investments Act 1961, s. 11 
			 Land Power to acquire by agreement, to appropriate, to dispose of Power to accept gifts of land Local Government Act 1972, ss. 124, 126, 127 Local Government Act 1972, s. 139 
			 Litter Provision of receptacles Litter Act 1983, ss. 5,6 
			 Lotteries Powers to promote Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976, s. 7 
			 Mortuaries and post mortem rooms Powers to provide mortuaries and post mortem rooms Public Health Act 1936, s. 198 
			 Open spaces Power to acquire land and maintain Public Health Act 1875, s. 164 Open Spaces Act 1906, ss. 9 and 10 
			 Parish documents Powers to direct as to their custody Local Government Act 1972, s. 226 
			 Public buildings and village hall Power to provide buildings for public meetings and assemblies Local Government Act 1972, s. 133 
			 Public conveniences Powers relating to provision of public conveniences Public Health Act 1936, s. 87 
			 Recreation Power to acquire land for or to provide public walks, pleasure grounds and open spaces and to manage and control them. Power to provide gymnasiums, playing fields, holiday camps Provision of boating pools (see Local Government Act 1972, Sched. 14 para. 27) Public Health Act 1875, s. 164 Public Health Acts Amendment Act 1890 s. 44 Open Spaces Act 1906, ss. 9 and 10 Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, s. 19 Public Health Act 1961, s. 54 
			 Town and country planning Right to be notified of planning applications Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Sched. 1, para. 8 
			 Tourism Power to encourage visitors and provide conference and other facilities Local Government Act 1972, s. 144 
			 Traffic calming Powers to contribute financially to traffic calming schemes Highways Act 1980, s.274A 
			 Transport Powers in relation to car-sharing schemes, taxi fare concessions and information about transport Powers to make grants for bus services Local Government and Rating Act 1997, s. 26, 28 and 29 Transport Act 1985, s. 106A 
			 War memorials Power to maintain, repair, protect and alter war memorials War Memorials (Local Authorities' Powers) Act 1923, s.1; as extended by Local Government Act 1948, s. 133 
			 Water Supply Power to utilise well, spring or stream and to provide facilities for obtaining water from them Public Health Act 1936, s. 125

Policies (Environmental Impacts)

John Horam: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many new policy proposals or significant changes in policy were produced in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04; how many of these were screened for their environmental impacts; and how many were the subject of separate environmental appraisals.

Keith Hill: The number of consultations on new policy proposals were:
	(a) 2002–03—24 (only from 29 May 2002 when the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established);
	(b) 2003–04—32.
	All policy proposals are accompanied by a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) where applicable, and this assessment includes consideration of environmental impacts. From April 2004 the importance of the assessment of environmental impacts has been more strongly emphasised within the RIA process.

Theft

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the equivalent monetary cost of theft has been to (a) his Department in each year since it was established, (b) the executive agencies affiliated to his Department in each year since his Department was established and (c) the Government Offices of the Regions in each year since 1997.

Phil Hope: Losses due to theft in each financial year since the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created are as follows:
	
		£
		
			 Financial year Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Executive agencies Regional Coordination Units/Government Office 
		
		
			 2002–03 1,901 41,579 1,000 
			 2003–04 6,350 7,581 12,350 
			 2004–05 0 0 9,800 
		
	
	Assets have been valued at cost, net book value or replacement cost depending on the circumstances of the individual case. Recoveries from perpetrators have been netted off. Some incidents are still under investigation and final values may change.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Address Preference Service

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) residential and (b) commercial addresses have been registered under the address preference service in each year since it has been operational.

Stephen Timms: The address preference service is the operational concern of Royal Mail Group and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Advertising

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money was spent on advertising and promotional literature for her Department's initiatives, broken down by year since 1997.

Patricia Hewitt: For expenditure on advertising by my Department through COI from 1997–98 to 2000–01, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Twickenham on 20 November 2001, Official Report, column 162W. Advertising expenditure for 2001–02, 2002–03 and 2003–04 was £6,610,240, £13,741,906 and £4,547,749 respectively. Figures include advertising by the Small Business Service and exclude VAT.
	Figures relating specifically to promotional literature are not held centrally and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

Biomass Energy Industry

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how she intends to protect existing and well established wood-based industries from power stations whose raw material is the same wood residues.

Stephen Timms: The Woodfuel Resource Study published earlier this year found that 10 per cent. of potential resource in small roundwood and sawmill product, used by woodpanel industries, remains unused after needs of existing industries have been taken into account.
	I understand my officials will be meeting with the Forestry Commission and the Wood Panel Industries Federation to discuss the Federation's concerns shortly. I met representatives of the Federation to discuss their concerns on 23 October 2003.

Brazil

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the trade barriers are to imported Brazilian products entering the United Kingdom.

Mike O'Brien: In terms of Brazil-specific measures for which this Department has responsibility, there is an anti-dumping duty of 32 per cent. imposed by the European Community on imports of malleable tube or pipe fittings originating in Brazil.

Business Start-ups

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many technology business start-ups there were in each year since 1995.

Nigel Griffiths: DTI figures based solely on VAT registrations in technology industries are shown as follows for the period 1995 to 2002. Data for 2003 will be available in Autumn 2004.
	
		UK VAT registrations: 1995–2002
		
			  Technology industries 
		
		
			 1995 17,315 
			 1996 20,410 
			 1997 26,740 
			 1998 30,600 
			 1999 22,220 
			 2000 23,755 
			 2001 19,180 
			 2002 15,860 
		
	
	Source:
	Business Start-ups and Closures;
	VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994–2002;
	Small Business Service, www.sbs.gov.uk/analytical/statistics/vatstats.php
	VAT registrations and de-registrations do not capture all start-up activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1995. Similarly, businesses that de-register will not necessarily have closed. Only 1.8 million out of 3.8 million enterprises were registered for VAT at the start of 2002.

Call Centres

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what research her Department has conducted into the security implications of call centres being outsourced to other countries; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what representations have been made to her Department by representatives of British industry regarding security concerns which have arisen from outsourcing call centres from the UK.

Patricia Hewitt: Companies wanting to transfer personal data from the UK to other countries must comply with the Data Protection Act's requirements, including its eight rules of good information handling known as the Data Protection Principles.
	Where a company overseas is processing personal data under contract to a company in the UK, the UK Company, as controller of the data, retains full responsibility for the actions of the second company. This situation applies whether the processing is being carried out in the UK or abroad.
	Responsibility for administering and enforcing the Act lies with the Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, who carries out these duties independently of the Government. Any directly affected person who believes that one of the Act's requirements has been broken can ask the Commissioner to assess whether this is the case. If he concludes that there has been a significant breach, it is open to him to take enforcement action against the organisation concerned. To date, the Information Commissioner has not received any substantive complaints that the Act has been breached as a result of the offshoring of call centre work.

Common Agricultural Policy

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research her Department has commissioned on the effects of the Common Agricultural Policy on non-European Union trade, with particular reference to less-developed countries.

Mike O'Brien: The DTI has not commissioned its own research into the effects of the Common Agricultural Policy on non-European Union trade. However, our view, based on the ample research on others such as the World Bank and the OECD, is clearly set out in the recent White Paper on Trade and Investment and in the Economics Paper which accompanied it.

Departmental Accountancy Practice

Richard Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who the Finance Director of (a) the Department, (b) UK Trade and Investments Service, (c) Postal Services Commission, (d) Ofgem, (e) Office of Fair Trading and (f) Export Credits Guarantee Department is; what accountancy qualifications each Director holds; and on how many occasions there has been a qualified opinion on (i) the resource accounts and (ii) other accounts of each in the last five years.

Patricia Hewitt: The Finance Director for the Department of Trade and Industry is David Evans, and he is a Doctor of Philosophy. He does not hold a CCAB qualification. There has not been a qualified audit opinion to the Department's resource and other accounts in the last five years.
	The Finance Director for UK Trade and Investments Service is Susan Haird. She has an MA in Economics and Modern History and does not hold a CCAB qualification. There have been no qualifications to the resource accounts in the last five years. The appropriation account for 2000–01 received an excess vote qualification.
	The Finance Director of the Export Credit Guarantees Department is Ian Dickson. He is a qualified accountant and is a member of the following accountancy bodies: Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland; Chartered Institute of Management Accountants; and the Association of Corporate Treasurers. There have been no qualifications to the resource or other accounts in the last five years.
	The Postal Services Commission, Ofgem and the Office of Fair Trading have elected to respond to the Member directly.

Departmental Annual Report

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many copies of her Department's annual report were printed in each year since 1997; how many were sold in each year; and what the (a) publication costs and (b) sales revenue were.

Patricia Hewitt: The cost incurred by the Department for producing the Departmental Reports is limited to the design and artwork, and, since 1999, the costs incurred in placing an electronic version of the report on the Departmental website. Other costs of printing and publication are met directly by the publisher, TSO (The Stationery Office Limited), which recoups these costs through sales. TSO uses its commercial judgement as to the number of copies printed.
	Total sales revenue is impacted by the number of copies sold at a discount, and is a commercial matter for TSO, but TSO has confirmed that the total numbers of copies sold are:
	
		
			 Year Number Sold 
		
		
			 1997 not avail. 
			 1998 1,346 
			 1999 1,219 
			 2000 1,244 
			 2001 1,145 
			 2002 1,085 
			 2003 1,000 
			 2004 765(29) 
		
	
	(29) to date (mid July)
	The number of hard copies ordered is reducing as recipients are being encouraged to use the web-based electronic version of the Report.

Departmental Expenditure

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was spent by her Department on public relations consultants in (a) 1996–97 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 20 July 2004
	Figures relating to past and current expenditure on public relations consultants by my Department are not held centrally and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Expenditure

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total cost of printing departmental headed notepaper was in (a) 1996–97 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 20 July 2004
	The information is as follows:
	(a) The total costs of printing departmental headed notepaper in 1996–97 is unavailable.
	(b) The total costs of printing departmental headed notepaper in 2003–04 was £29,848.

Departmental Vehicles

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many road vehicles are operated by the Department and its agencies; how many personal injury accidents involving road vehicles operated by the Department have occurred within each of the last five years; and what the Department's policy is for managing work related road safety.

Patricia Hewitt: The DTI currently has nine fleet vehicles.
	There have not been any personal injury accidents involving road vehicles operated by the Department within the last five years.
	The lease car company is responsible for ensuring the vehicle is roadworthy. The driver is responsible for ensuring that the vehicle is maintained and suitable insurance is in place.
	Chief Executives of the DTI Agencies will be writing to you direct in response to your question.
	Letter from Claire Clancy to Mr. Kidney, dated 3 August 2004
	I am responding to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on behalf of Companies House, which is an Executive Agency of the DTI.
	Companies House operates one company vehicle which is a van.
	We have had no personal injury accidents involving the vehicle during the last five years.
	We do not have a separate road safety policy. When on company business this is addressed within the overall Health & Safety Policy, and where legislation has been introduced as in the use of mobile phones. This information is provided and instructions given to all employees.
	Letter from Ron Marchant to Mr. Kidney, dated 3 August, 2004
	I am replying to this parliamentary question, tabled on 20 July concerning how many road vehicles are operated by the Department and its agencies; how many personal injury accidents involving road vehicles operated by the Department have occurred within each of the last five years; and what the Department's policy is for managing work-related road safety.
	The Patent Office van is our only leased vehicle and there has been no personal injury accidents over the last five years. The Office has not got a specific policy for managing work-related road safety. However, the PO van is equipped with a hands free mobile, is regularly serviced and drivers must have a valid clean driving licence.
	Letter from Desmond Flynn to Mr. Kidney, dated 3 August, 2004
	The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply to your question to you directly on behalf of The Insolvency Service in respect of your question (2003/3950) asking how many road vehicles are operated by the Department and its agencies; how many personal injury accidents involving road vehicles operated by the Department have occurred within each of the last five years; and what the Department's policy is for managing work-related road safety.
	The only part of The Insolvency Service that operates any road vehicles is Redundancy Payments, which currently has four leased motor vehicles used by visiting officers. There have been no reported personal injuries involving vehicles in the last five years. We require all vehicles to be maintained in a good state and to be serviced regularly. All journeys must be notified in advance and officers must not drive their vehicles when tired or for excessive hours. Finally, all accidents, whether involving personal injury or not, must be reported.
	Letter from Dr. J. W. Llewellyn to Mr. Kidney, dated 3 August, 2004
	The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) to your three questions regarding road vehicles and safety.
	1. Road vehicles operated by the Agency.
	The National Weights & Measures Laboratory operates two official vehicles.
	2. Personal injury accidents involving Agency vehicles within the past 5 years.
	None
	3. The Agency's policy for managing work-related road safety.
	NWML produced its own policy on managing work-related road safety. A copy of this has been placed in the Library.

E-mail Preference Service

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Government will introduce an e-mail preference service; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The Government introduced the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations in December 2003, which cover, among other things, the regulation of unsolicited commercial e-mails. The Government have no plans to introduce an e-mail preference service.
	The Government have not ruled out extending the "opt-in" right to corporate subscribers. However, as the regulations have only been in force for seven months, it is too early to assess how the new provisions are working in practice, and what areas, if any, might need to be reviewed.

Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate has powers to investigate the in-house employment agency of the national health service.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Employment Agency Standards (EAS) Inspectorate enforces the provisions of the Employment Agency Act 1973 (the Act) and the associated Regulations. The Act regulates the conduct of employment agencies and employment businesses.
	Section 9 of the Act sets out the powers of the EAS Inspectorate to enter any relevant business premises to inspect any records or to require any person on the premises to provide all such information as may be required to ascertain whether the provisions of the Act are being complied with.
	The Act does not apply to the Crown or those bodies that are listed in section 13(7) of the Act. The in-house employment agency of the national health service, NHS Professionals, is not part of the Crown or listed as an exempt body in the Act.

EU Emissions Trading

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what formal assessment she has made of the (a) effect on the competiveness of UK industry, (b) the cost to UK consumers and (c) the incentives for UK industry to cut carbon emissions of the proposals for allocating national allowances under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme recently approved by the EU Commission.

Stephen Timms: The Department has undertaken extensive analysis of the implications of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme for UK industry and consumers. A paper on the implications for UK competitiveness is available at: www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sepn/euetsimplications .pdf
	Work on the implications of the scheme for electricity prices was undertaken for the Department by ILEX Energy Consulting and is available at www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sepn/ilex report.pdf. ILEX are currently expanding this work, including to give some consideration to the implications of the National Allocation Plans from individual member states.
	At a carbon price of €5 per tonne of carbon dioxide the Department estimates that electricity prices to industry might increase by around 6 per cent. and prices to the domestic consumer by around 3 per cent. A carbon price of €5 is estimated to lead to a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of around IMtC in 2010. A carbon price of €10 may lead to more than double this level of reduction. These results are sensitive to assumed fossil fuel prices and the fuel mix in generation in 2010.

Green Minister

John Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the activities of the Green Minister in the Department in financial year 2003–04.

Stephen Timms: I am DTI's Green Minister and in this role I am a member of the Ministerial Sub-Committee of Green Ministers. However, it has been established practice under successive governments not to disclose information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees.
	My ministerial responsibilities include, amongst others, Energy, Sustainable Development and Corporate Social Responsibility and these overlapped with my work as Green Minister in the financial year 2003–04.
	Important pieces of work with which I have been involved in the past year include the publication of a UK Framework for Sustainable Consumption and Production in conjunction with Defra, the setting up of an academy for corporate social responsibility, and action on implementation of the Energy White Paper.

High Technology Jobs

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to minimise the export of high technology jobs to (a) Eastern Europe and (b) Asia.

Patricia Hewitt: The Government want to keep as many jobs in this country as possible and we will act to ensure that the conditions remain favourable for this. The UK has a skilled workforce, a strong and stable economy, and a flexible and dynamic business environment, all of which will ensure that we continue to attract and retain investment and high quality jobs.

Late Bill Payments

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the late payment of bills in the UK.

Nigel Griffiths: This Government have always recognised that late payment of debts can have serious effects on the cash flow of smaller companies, which is why we had a manifesto commitment to introduce a Late Payment Act to allow small businesses to:
	claim interest on late payment from other business or public sector bodies;
	allow creditors to claim a fixed sum of compensation to cover debt recovery costs should late payment happen.
	The Government also established the Better Payment Practice Group whose website lists the payment record of companies.
	The package of measures has had a positive effect on payment times. The Grant Thornton European Business Survey showed that the average time taken in the UK to settle accounts in 1997 was 49 days. By 2002 this had fallen to 41 days. By comparison, the average settlement time in our European neighbours was 50 days. A recent survey by the REL Consultancy Group looked at average days payable outstanding (DPO) and concluded that UK companies' payment performance is 33.6 days against 42.4 days for Europe as a whole.
	Because of concerns that suppliers would not utilise the legislation for fear of reprisals or boycotts, I have also undertaken as Minister to write, in cases where invoices are not disputed, on behalf of small businesses to the managing directors of companies to convey their complaint and seek an explanation and appropriate action. I urge all Members of Parliament to do the same on behalf of constituents.

National Minimum Wage

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people in Hyndburn have benefited from the national minimum wage.

Gerry Sutcliffe: It is not possible to provide estimates specifically for the constituency of Hyndburn. However, based on the Office for National Statistics' Low Pay data released in October 2003, the DTI estimates that around 140,000 people in the North West stood to benefit from the introduction of the national minimum wage in April 1999. Between 130,000 and 160,000 people were expected to have benefited from the October 2003 uprating of the national minimum wage.

National Minimum Wage

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the number of homeworkers being paid below the national minimum wage.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The DTI's full regulatory impact assessment on "Regulations to Introduce Fair Piece Rates for Output Workers, including Homeworkers", published in February 2004, estimated that employers of around 70,000 home workers have been in breach of the minimum wage regulations. As a result of the 2004 amendment introducing the new system of fair piece rates, the DTI estimates that a total of around 110,000 home workers stand to benefit in October 2004 as a result of both extended coverage of the minimum wage and greater compliance.

National Minimum Wage

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of people in employment she estimates are in receipt of the national minimum wage.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Based on the Office for National Statistics' Low Pay data released in October 2003, the DTI estimates that between 1.0 million (4.0 per cent. of those in employment) and 1.2 million UK workers (4.8 per cent. of those in employment) were expected to have benefited from the October 2003 uprating of the national minimum wage.

Nirex

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects to announce her decision on the future of Nirex.

Elliot Morley: I have been asked to reply.
	My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, provided a written ministerial statement to the House on the future of Nirex on 21 July 2004.

Policy (Environmental Impact)

John Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new policy proposals or significant changes in policy were produced in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04; how many of these were screened for their environmental impacts; and how many were the subject of separate environmental appraisals.

Stephen Timms: In most instances, environmental screening and appraisal are undertaken as an integral part of the policy-making process, and separate records are not currently maintained. Nor are separate records maintained of the number of new policy proposals or significant changes in policy requiring Regulatory Impact Assessments made each year.
	A Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) would have been required for all departmental policy proposals in 2002–03 and 2003–04 which were likely to have a direct or indirect impact (whether benefits or cost) on business, charities and the voluntary sector. In accordance with Cabinet Office guidance, the RIA should have covered the full range of potential impacts on all stakeholders—including environmental impacts where relevant.

Post Offices

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices in Leicester, South have disabled access.

Stephen Timms: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Regional Development Agencies

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what budget has been set for each regional development agency as a result of the spending review.

Jacqui Smith: The Spending Review 2004 White Paper (published on 12 July 2004) states the total Single Programme budget for England's RDAs (2005–06: £2,163 million, 2006–07: £2,244 million, 2007–08: £2,297 million). The budget for each RDA for the years 2005–08 will be set later this year.

Regulatory Impact Assessments

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what regulatory impact assessments have been carried out on the EU directives that came into force over the past 12 months;
	(2)  what regulatory impact assessments (a) have been and (b) will be made for those EU directives which will come into force over the next 12 months.

Douglas Alexander: I have been asked to reply.
	In August 1998, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced that no proposal for regulation which has an impact on business, charities or the voluntary sector should be considered by Ministers without a regulatory impact assessment (RIA) being carried out. Where EU Directives impose significant costs on business, charities and the voluntary sector, RIAs are carried out to gain collective ministerial agreement for a negotiating line and RIAs accompany the explanatory memorandum produced for parliamentary scrutiny. Departments will then refocus the RIA when determining the options for implementing the directives.
	In May 2004, I presented a Command Paper to Parliament, listing all the final regulatory impact assessments completed by Departments during the period 1 July-31 December 2003.

Research and Development

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much her Department spent on science research and development in each of the last 25 years; and what the projected budgets are as a result of the spending review.

Patricia Hewitt: The following table sets out science budget expenditure since 1987–88, including projected spend following the 2004 spending review. Responsibility for administration of the science budget transferred from the Cabinet Office to the Department of Trade and Industry in 1995. Figures prior to 1987–88 are not available on a consistent basis.
	
		
			  Science budget (£ million) 
		
		
			 1987–88 650 
			 1988–89 697 
			 1989–90 803 
			 1990–91 890 
			 1991–92 915 
			 1992–93 1,051 
			 1993–94 1,163 
			 1994–95 1,223 
			 1995–96 1,295 
			 1996–97 1,312 
			 1997–98 1,331 
			 1998–99 1,334 
			 1999–2000 1,394 
			 2000–01 1,514 
			 2001–02 1,707 
			 2002–03 2,032 
			 2003–04(30) 2,366 
			 2004–05(31) 2,575 
			 2005–06(31) 2,913 
			 2006–07(31) 3,067 
			 2007–08(31) 3,282 
		
	
	(30) Provisional
	(31) Plan
	Note:
	The accounting treatment of expenditure has changed over the period. Figures to 2000–01 are on a cash basis. Figures for 2001–02 and 2002–03 are on the RAB stage 1 basis, i.e. including timing adjustments. Figures for 2003–04 onwards are on a full resource budgeting basis, net of depreciation.

Research and Development

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 30 June 2004, Official Report, column 282W, on research and development, what further assessment she has made, following the publication of the Spending Review 2004, of (a) the effectiveness and (b) future dates of the competition for the Grant for Research and Development.

Nigel Griffiths: Assessments under the current competition are expected to be concluded in September and I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 June.

Research and Development

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 8 June 2004, Official Report, column 382W, on research and development, how many applicants have received funding; what the total value is of the funding allocated; and how much funding remains to be allocated for the grant for research and development for the current fiscal year.

Nigel Griffiths: In the first quarter of the current financial year 134 applicants were offered Grants for Research and Development worth £11.5 million. A planned £24.5 million remains to be allocated.
	Overall spend on programmes to improve UK innovation performance and accelerate business exploitation of science and technologies is planned to increase from £377 million in 2004–05 to over £387 million in 2005–06.

Sellafield Site Remediation Strategy

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding has been (a) provided and (b) guaranteed to enable the acceleration of previous programmes within the Sellafield Site Remediation Strategy as referred to in the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate's quarterly report for Q1 2004.

Stephen Timms: The Energy Act 2004 provides for the establishment of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). The NDA will be established in October and become operational in April 2005. The Treasury White Paper dated 12 July on the outcome of the 2004 spending review provided in respect of my Department that the NDA will have an annual budget of approximately £2 billion, comprised of central government grant and income from its commercial activities.
	The NDA will determine the allocation of funding to its 20 sites—including Sellafield—following discussions with key stakeholders such as the regulators. The NDA will consult on its proposed first annual work plan in the autumn. Acceleration of work will be possible under the proposed contract for Sellafield with the British Nuclear Group, depending on the company's performance.

Small Businesses (Tamworth)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support has been offered to small businesses in Tamworth constituency in each year since 1997.

Nigel Griffiths: Between 1997 and 2000 support to small businesses in Tamworth was provided by Staffordshire Training and Enterprise Council and subsequently it has been provided by the Business Link Operator for Staffordshire, Staffordshire Business Support Limited.
	The total number of businesses advised or helped by Staffordshire Business Support Limited since April 2000 is 1,552. Specific support has included business start-up advice to 118 enterprises with workforce development, Investors in People, international trade, marketing and financial advice also being provided. Of the total enterprises assisted, 111 were female run and 35 were ethnic minority run enterprises.
	Within the Tamworth constituency, businesses have been eligible for help from the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme, the SMART Award and the Enterprise Grant Scheme. Since 1997, the SMART Award and its successor, the Research and Development Scheme, awarded grants totalling £480,000 to four enterprises and the Enterprise Grant scheme has enabled a further six enterprises to receive grants totalling £130,350.

Solar PV Major Demonstration Programme

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new companies have been accredited under her Department's Solar PV Major Demonstration Programme since its launch.

Stephen Timms: 41 different organisations have been accredited so far since the start of the programme, and all retain their accreditation.
	Grid connected:
	19 have provisional accreditation
	21 have full accreditation.
	Off-grid:
	10 have provisional accreditation
	3 have full accreditation.

Spending Review

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will identify the (a) top priority programmes and (b) lower value business support administered by her Department referred to in the 2004 Spending Review, page 141.

Patricia Hewitt: My Department provides a range of solutions to help business overcome barriers to success and improve productivity. A set of nine broad, cross-sectoral business support products has replaced the previous complex array of schemes.
	Significant increases in funding for science and innovation reflect the priority accorded to maximising the potential of the UK's science base and translating this into innovation by business. Five of the nine business support products are specifically designed to help business to succeed through innovation.

Telecommunications

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on measures taken by the EU to open up the telecommunications industry across Europe; if she will estimate the impact of such policies on the price of (a) telephone calls and (b) internet access; and if she will estimate (i) the average change in costs per household and (ii) the total value of such changes for each region in the UK as a result of such measures in the last year for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: I welcome the measures which opened up the telecommunications industry across Europe, which created opportunities for British companies to contribute in newly liberalised markets across Europe. The impact of these measures on prices is a matter for the Office of Communications (Ofcom) as independent regulator. Accordingly, my officials have asked the Chief Executive of Ofcom to respond directly to the hon. Member on that point. Copies of the Chief Executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Terrorism

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans her Department has to offer emergency assistance and advice to (a) industry and (b) small businesses in the event of a terrorist attack.

Patricia Hewitt: My Department works closely with those businesses which form part of the critical national infrastructure and for which it has lead responsibility to ensure those businesses are resilient to terrorist attack and have robust business continuity plans in place in response to a range of disruptive challenges.
	My Department also works with business more generally to ensure it has access to advice and guidance on preparing for and responding to a terrorist incident, and has established business sector business continuity champions.

Unsolicited Faxes/Telephone Calls

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry where money received from fines for making unsolicited telephone calls and faxes is paid.

Stephen Timms: If a company or individual were to contravene an enforcement notice issued by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and were to be successfully prosecuted in a magistrates court and subjected to a fine, the fine would be paid to the local Magistrates Court Committee (MCC) and would then be forwarded to HM Treasury.

Unsolicited Faxes/Telephone Calls

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what costs to (a) industry and (b) consumers she estimates to have been incurred each year since 1999 as a result of unsolicited (i) telephone calls and (ii) faxes.

Stephen Timms: The Government do not have an estimate of the cost to industry and consumers of receiving unsolicited telephone calls and faxes. The Telephone Preference Service (TPS) scheme for consumers started as an industry-led voluntary scheme until EU regulations required that member states introduce a statutory provision for consumer registration.
	In deciding to extend the right of consumers to register with the TPS to corporate subscribers at the end of 2003, the Government produced a regulatory impact assessment, which concluded that the benefits of having the option to register outweighed the additional cost to marketing businesses for cleaning up their telephone lists.

Unsolicited Faxes/Telephone Calls

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the maximum penalty is for (a) sending unsolicited faxes and (b) making unsolicited telephone calls; and how many times it has been incurred in each year since 1999.

Stephen Timms: The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has responsibility for enforcing the rules on unsolicited marketing including the sending of unsolicited marketing faxes to numbers registered on the Fax Preference Service (FPS) and making unsolicited marketing calls to numbers registered on the Telephone Preference Service (TPS). The ICO has issued formal enforcement notices against more than a dozen companies and individuals in respect of unsolicited marketing faxes.
	A company or individual that contravenes an enforcement notice commits a criminal offence and, upon successful prosecution, could be subject to a fine of up to £5,000 in a magistrates court. As the ICO has no evidence that the companies and individuals against whom notices have been issued warrant prosecution, to date no fines have been imposed in respect of contravention of these rules.

Unsolicited Faxes/Telephone Calls

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  how many prosecutions there have been in each year since 1999 for (a) sending unsolicited faxes and (b) making unsolicited telephone calls;
	(2)  how much money has been raised in each year since 1999 from fines resulting from prosecution of persons making unsolicited telephone and fax calls.

Stephen Timms: The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has responsibility for enforcing the rules on unsolicited marketing including the sending of unsolicited marketing faxes to numbers registered on the Fax Preference Service (FPS) and making unsolicited marketing calls to numbers registered on the Telephone Preference Service (TPS). The ICO has issued formal enforcement notices against more than a dozen companies and individuals in respect of unsolicited marketing faxes.
	A company or individual that contravenes an enforcement notice commits a criminal offence and, upon successful prosecution, could be subject to a fine of up to £5,000 in a magistrates court. As the ICO has no evidence that the companies and individuals against whom notices have been issued warrant prosecution, to date no fines have been imposed in respect of contravention of these rules.

Unsolicited Faxes/Telephone Calls

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) individual and (b) business numbers have been registered under (i) the telephone and (ii) fax preference schemes in each year since they have each been operational.

Stephen Timms: The table shows the total number of telephone numbers registered under the TPS since 2001. Corporate registration to the TPS began on 25 June 2004, since when there have been 48,183 corporate registrations.
	
		
			  Number registered 
		
		
			 2001 1,737,028 
			 2002 2,535,094 
			 2003 3,908,440 
			 2004 5,214,737

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Adoption Cases

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what consideration is being given in the review of children's cases in the area of the (a) Cumbria County Council, (b) Durham County Council, (c) Northumberland County Council, (d) Sunderland City Council, (e) South Tyneside Council, (f) North Tyneside Council, (g) North Yorkshire County Council, (h) Newcastle City Council, (i) Hartlepool Council, (j) York City Council, (k) Gateshead Borough Council, (l) Darlington Unitary Authority, (m) Middlesbrough Borough Council, (n) Stockton Council and (o) Redcar and Cleveland Council following the judgement in R v Cannings to what a child should be told about why it was removed from its birth parents, in cases where (i) evidence about Munchhausen's syndrome by proxy, (ii) evidence about factitious disorder by proxy and (iii) other evidence from (A) Professor Meadow and (B) Dr Southall may have played a role in the child's removal but the authority's judgment is that the best interests of the child are in the status quo.

Stephen Twigg: Information about individual cases in the named local authority areas is not held centrally.
	Existing guidance says that:
	"Every young person needs to develop a secure sense of identity and all those with parental or caring responsibilities have a duty to offer encouragement and support in this task. All children—whether living at home or not—are entitled to expect information about their personal and family history and need to understand their past as well as their present situation."
	Obviously in practice the imparting of information of this nature is difficult and anyone undertaking this task, for example adopters, foster carers, birth parents or indeed professionals, may need support to be able to help the child to understand their life history in a way that is appropriate to their age and understanding.

Advertising

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the salary costs to the Department were for employees working in public relations and publicity in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: Financial data for 1997 salary details could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Annual Report

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many copies of his Department's and predecessor Department's annual report were printed in each year since 1997; how many were sold in each year; and what the (a) publication cost and (b) sales revenue were.

Stephen Twigg: The following were the number of copies issued by TSO (The Stationery Office Ltd.) for the years 1998–2004. The number of copies supplied to DfES/DfEE for their own use is also provided for your information—please note these are in addition to the copies TSO have issued.
	
		
			 Edition Copies issued by TSO Copies supplied to DfES/DfEE 
		
		
			 1998 894 2,110 
			 1999 669 2,189 
			 2000 632 2,516 
			 2001 641 1,004 
			 2002 514 765 
			 2003 471 654 
			 2004 336 650 
		
	
	Costs of printing and publication are met directly by the publisher, TSO and do not fall to government.
	In return the publisher retains the revenues which they earn from sales and which are aimed at ensuring recovery of their costs.

Bullying

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action the Department is taking to reduce incidences of bullying in Staffordshire schools.

Ivan Lewis: We attach a high priority to helping schools prevent and combat bullying: it is a serious problem which puts the emotional well-being and educational achievement of pupils at risk. Our guidance pack "Bullying: Don't Suffer in Silence", the anti-bullying Charter for Action and the anti-bullying website www.dfes.gov.uk/bullying offer detailed advice on preventing and addressing bullying.
	In November 2003 I launched our anti-bullying Charter for schools, which schools are now signing. It is accompanied by a summary of effective practice to help schools review and enhance their anti-bullying policies. The Charter was launched at the first of the Make The Difference series of regional conferences. The programme of conferences began in November 2003 and culminated with a final event on 14 June. These conferences, the West Midlands one of which was well attended by Staffordshire head teachers, offered an opportunity for schools and other partners to share good practice on this issue and to learn at first hand about what has worked elsewhere. Details of the conferences can be accessed online at www.teachernet.gov.uk/antibullying. Our new public information film, 'Tell Someone', also encourages children and young people to tell someone if they are being bullied.
	Last week, we announced funding of £570,000 for the Anti Bullying Alliance; an umbrella group of over 50 voluntary sector organisations, professional associations and leading local authorities. The Alliance will work to support schools in addressing bullying behaviour and lead on preparations for the first national anti-bullying week in November. Schools in Staffordshire will have access to an anti-bullying coordinator based in the West Midlands region, and working with the National Strategies, who can provide practical help, advice and support in tackling all forms of bullying in schools.

Child Care

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many child care places were available in each of the last 25 years, broken down by local authority area, and listed in descending order according to the biggest percentage increase in such places over the last seven years.

Margaret Hodge: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 25 May 2004, Official Report, column 1528W, when I stated that statistics have only been collected by Local Authorities (LAs) since 1999 following the introduction of the National Childcare Strategy for England.
	Details of the places created by LA across England since 1999 were provided in the table attached to the previous question. The actual stock number of childcare places available each year was only made available with the first publication of Ofsted statistics in March 2003.
	The following table provides details of registered places across England available in March 2003 compared to March 2004, broken down by LA and showing the percentage change in descending order.
	
		
			 LA Name Ofsted March 2003 Data Ofsted March 2004 Data Net Growth 2003–04 Percentage Increase 
		
		
			 South Tyneside 1,934 3,746 1,811 94 
			 Halton 1,960 3,164 1,204 61 
			 North Tyneside 2,776 4,067 1,291 46 
			 Torbay 1,691 2,385 695 41 
			 City of London 308 430 122 40 
			 NE Lincolnshire 1,578 2,199 621 39 
			 Luton 2,286 3,184 899 39 
			 Southampton 3,755 5,220 1,466 39 
			 Cumbria 6,121 8,456 2,334 38 
			 Thurrock 1861 2,565 704 38 
			 Hartlepool 1,474 2,007 533 36 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 2,714 3,693 979 36 
			 Oldham 4,542 6,148 1,606 35 
			 Southend-On-Sea 2,342 3,166 824 35 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 1,903 2,560 657 35 
			 Suffolk 8,504 1,1430 2,926 34 
			 Haringey 2,493 3,330 838 34 
			 Bournemouth 2,514 3,311 797 32 
			 Newham 3,886 5,078 1,191 31 
			 Stockton on Tees 2,810 3,607 797 28 
			 Barnsley 2,367 3,038 671 28 
			 Doncaster 3,478 4,423 945 27 
			 Reading 3,656 4,614 958 26 
			 Norfolk 10,674 13,435 2,761 26 
			 Sefton 3,573 4,472 899 25 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,688 3,343 655 24 
			 Lambeth 4,551 5,641 1,091 24 
			 Wakefield 3,466 4,260 794 23 
			 East Sussex 8,190 10,040 1,850 23 
			 Walsall 3,885 4,757 872 22 
			 Peterborough 4,554 5,569 1,015 22 
			 North Somerset 3,084 3,766 682 22 
			 Cornwall 6,984 8,520 1,536 22 
			 Lewisham 4,683 5,712 1,029 22 
			 Liverpool 7,396 9,006 1,611 22 
			 Wigan 5,528 6,681 1,153 21 
			 Rutland 787 951 164 21 
			 St Helens 2,534 3,045 511 20 
			 Plymouth 4,656 5,567 911 20 
			 North Lincolnshire 2,028 2,420 391 19 
			 Merton 3,821 4,554 733 19 
			 Hackney 2,908 3,455 547 19 
			 Havering 2,445 2,904 459 19 
			 Bradford 7,837 9,251 1,414 18 
			 Bolton 5,856 6,901 1,045 18 
			 Sheffield 9,732 11,460 1,729 18 
			 Rotherham 3,297 3,875 578 18 
			 Salford 4,589 5,392 803 17 
			 Knowsley 2,763 3,239 476 17 
			 Lancashire 2,2538 2,6391 3854 17 
			 Harrow 2,905 3,397 492 17 
			 Kingston Upon Thames 2,932 3,428 496 17 
			 Redbridge 3,538 4,129 591 17 
			 Swindon 4,406 5,133 727 16 
			 Hampshire 2,7288 3,1769 4481 16 
			 Southwark 6,156 7,162 1,005 16 
			 Hertfordshire 2,3256 26,983 3727 16 
			 Brent 4,281 4,955 674 16 
			 Northamptonshire 12,813 14,827 2015 16 
			 Sunderland 3,155 3,645 490 16 
			 Bexley 2,981 3,440 458 15 
			 Staffordshire 18,482 21,321 2,839 15 
			 North Yorkshire 11,793 13,593 1,800 15 
			 Warrington 6,233 7,176 942 15 
			 Tameside 4,564 5 252 688 15 
			 Nottinghamshire 15,819 18,180 2,362 15 
			 Kingston Upon Hull 3,515 4,035 520 15 
			 Sutton 3,108 3,568 460 15 
			 Sandwell 4,276 4,907 630 15 
			 Bromley 5,008 5,737 729 15 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 3,817 4,370 553 14 
			 Medway Towns 5,122 5,856 733 14 
			 Leicestershire 12,125 13,857 1,732 14 
			 Rochdale 4,957 5,662 705 14 
			 Manchester 9,723 11,101 1,378 14 
			 Lincolnshire 12,129 13,828 1,699 14 
			 Gateshead 3,343 3,806 464 14 
			 Greenwich 4,485 5,097 612 14 
			 Kent 24,589 27,943 3,354 14 
			 Worcestershire 12,739 14,451 1,712 13 
			 Ealing 5,795 6,574 778 13 
			 Northumberland 5,636 6,391 755 13 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 4,544 5,150 607 13 
			 Newcastle Upon Tyne 4,710 5,338 629 13 
			 Calderdale 4,862 5,493 632 13 
			 Durham 7,078 7,998 920 13 
			 Barking and Dagenham 1,987 2,244 257 13 
			 Portsmouth 4,432 5,002 570 13 
			 Poole 2,216 2,501 285 13 
			 Oxfordshire 16,221 18,276 2055 13 
			 Shropshire 6,118 6,893 775 13 
			 Bristol 8,024 9,026 1002 12 
			 Darlington 2,371 2,666 295 12 
			 Coventry 6,437 7,203 766 12 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 5,818 6,510 691 12 
			 Wandsworth 7,338 8,209 871 12 
			 Cambridgeshire 13,509 15,106 1597 12 
			 Bedfordshire 7,840 8,766 926 12 
			 West Sussex 13,865 15,491 1626 12 
			 Kirklees 7,585 8,466 881 12 
			 Derby 5,510 6,149 639 12 
			 Trafford 6,693 7,459 766 11 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 2,835 3,158 323 11 
			 Birmingham 2,2378 24,927 2,549 11 
			 Milton Keynes 5,874 6,536 662 11 
			 Blackpool 3,091 3,435 344 11 
			 Buckinghamshire 11,043 12,254 1,211 11 
			 Croydon 7,299 8,046 747 10 
			 Hounslow 3,311 3,637 326 10 
			 Richmond-Upon-Thames 4,354 4,777 423 10 
			 Warwickshire 11,931 13,086 1,155 10 
			 Bury 5,797 6,348 551 10 
			 Stockport 6,322 6,915 592 9 
			 Cheshire 17,026 18,605 1,579 9 
			 South Gloucester 5,070 5,540 470 9 
			 Enfield 4,275 4,670 395 9 
			 Brighton and Hove 5,276 5,758 482 9 
			 Herefordshire 4,126 4,498 371 9 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 3,023 3,289 266 9 
			 Bracknell Forest 3,312 3592 280 8 
			 Dorset 5,894 6,372 478 8 
			 Somerset 9,846 10,635 789 8 
			 Derbyshire 11,828 12,773 945 8 
			 Nottingham 6,234 6,725 491 8 
			 Dudley 4,528 4,880 351 8 
			 Wirral 6,403 6,888 485 8 
			 Isle of Wight 3,159 3,385 226 7 
			 Waltham Forest 5,189 5,555 366 7 
			 Surrey 26,021 27,856 1,835 7 
			 Westminster 3,093 3,00 208 7 
			 Wiltshire 10,871 11,500 629 6 
			 Islington 4,325 4,567 241 6 
			 Essex 21,064 22,213 1,150 5 
			 Devon 13,694 14,425 730 5 
			 Camden 4,486 4,719 234 5 
			 Hillingdon 4,971 5,226 255 5 
			 Wolverhampton 4,317 4,522 205 5 
			 Barnet 6,371 6,666 296 5 
			 Telford and Wrekin 4,540 4,733 193 4 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 3,223 3,346 123 4 
			 Leeds 15,776 16,178 402 3 
			 Leicester City 5,886 6028 142 2 
			 Gloucestershire 14,174 14,358 184 1 
			 York 4,149 4186 37 1 
			 Solihull 5,644 5,672 28 0 
			 Wokingham 5,112 5,100 13 0 
			 Middlesbrough 3,129 2,983 146 5 
			 Slough 2,187 2,080 108 5 
			 West Berkshire 5,055 4,687 368 7 
			 Isles Of Scilly 187 111 76 41 
			  
			 Totals: 96,7821 1,102,686 1,348,64

Children's Homes

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) announced and (b) unannounced inspections of children's homes have taken place in the past year; how many homes have been inspected; and what percentage of the total this represents.

David Miliband: holding answer 20 July 2004
	A total of 3,663 inspections of registered children's homes were carried out by the Commission for Social Care Inspection during the year ending 31 March 2004, of which 1,862 were announced and 1,801 were unannounced. Information on the number of registered children's homes inspected is available only at disproportionate cost.

Class Sizes

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average class size in Leicester, South for (a) primary and (b) secondary schools was in each year since 1997.

Stephen Twigg: The requested information is given in the table.
	
		Maintained primary and secondary schools(32): Average size of classes taught by one teacher(33)—Position in January each year 1997 to 2004 (Provisional v2)
		
			  Leicester South Parliamentary Constituency(34) 
			  Primary Secondary 
			  Number of pupils Number of classes Average class size Number of pupils Number of classes Average class size 
		
		
			 1997 8,760 320 27.0 3,680 150 24.2 
			 1998 8,750 310 28.0 3,880 160 24.3 
			 1999 8,410 310 27.1 3,910 160 24.0 
			 2000 8,190 310 26.9 3,960 160 24.6 
			 2001 8,490 320 26.3 3,920 160 24.7 
			 2002 8,890 340 26.4 4,070 160 25.3 
			 2003 8,720 330 26.3 4,050 160 24.8 
			 2004(35) 8,560 320 26.4 4,060 160 25.4 
		
	
	(32) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(33) Classes as taught during the one selected period in each school on the day of the census in January.
	(34) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	(35) Provisional.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census

Course Cancellation

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list higher education institutions in England which have cancelled (a) undergraduate and (b) postgraduate courses for academic years (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05; which courses were affected; what the reasons for the course cancellation were in each case; how many students were affected in each case; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: holding answer 22 July 2004
	Decisions on courses are a matter for individual HE Institutions: information on course closures is not held centrally.

Data Protection Act

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether he intends to make (a) the pupil identification number and (b) the identifier used in relation to children in the Children Bill a general identifier as defined under the Data Protection Act 1998; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: There are no current plans to make the pupil identification number a general identifier. A unique identifying number will be important for the successful operation of the databases for which provision is made in the Children Bill. Feasibility work is underway to identify the best source of such a unique identifying number. This will include advice as to whether the number will need to operate as a general identifier as described in the Data Protection Act 1998.

Data Protection Act

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in what way the provisions of the Children Bill in relation to the security of personal information held in the child database about children extend the security afforded under the Seventh Principle of the Data Protection Act 1998; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The databases to be established and operated under clause 9 of the Children Bill will operate in accordance with all eight principles of the Data Protection Act 1998. The seventh data protection principle concerns appropriate technical and organisational measures against unauthorised or unlawful processing of personal data and against accidental loss or destruction of, or damage to, personal data. Detailed arrangements for how such measures should operate for databases will be set out in regulations, guidance and directions to be made under clause 9 of the Children Bill.

Dentistry

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to make academic dentistry more attractive to dental graduates.

Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply.
	On 16 July, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, announced that we are to provide 170 additional training places for undergraduates in dentistry from October 2005. The increase will be supported by capital investment of £80 million over the next four years and additional revenue funds reaching £29 million by 2010–11. Not only will this expansion increase the pool of dentists from which trainees are drawn, but, by improving the environment in dental schools and teaching hospitals, it will make academic dentistry a more attractive career.

Departmental Administration Costs

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total administration costs were in his Department in financial years (a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 22 July 2004
	Details of the Department's gross running costs for 1996–97 and 1997–98 are contained in Table 5.5 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2000–01 (Cm 4601). These figures are on a cash basis and include the former Employment Service and Ofsted. From Public Expenditure Analyses 2001–02 (Cm 5101), departments' administrative expenditure was reported on a resource basis, as administration costs.
	Copies of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses are in the Library of the House and are on HM Treasury's public website (www.hm-treasury.gov.uk).

Departmental Staff

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money his Department expects to save as a result of the job cuts in his Department announced in the 2004 spending review.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 21 July 2004
	The spending review announcement included a reduction of 1,460 posts in DfES. These will be achieved by April 2008 and equate to a steady state paybill reduction for the Department of £38 million at today's prices.

Departmental Staff (Upper Age Limits)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether (a) his Department and (b) agencies for which it is responsible (i) have a set retirement age which applies to all or most personnel and (ii) have a maximum age beyond which applications for employment will not be considered; and what the age is in each case.

Stephen Twigg: Within my Department all staff below the Senior Civil Service can choose when they retire between age 60 up to a maximum retirement age of 65. This is subject to satisfying normal fitness and efficiency requirements. Staff in the Senior Civil Service normally retire at age 60.
	My Department has no maximum age beyond which applications for employment will not be considered.

Departmental Staffing

Richard Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people were employed in the Department (a) in 1997 and (b) at the latest date for which information is available, broken down by job title; if he will list the job functions performed by those holding each job title; and for how many people the primary function was (i) human resource or personnel functions, (ii) finance and accounting functions, (iii) information technology functions and (iv) other support, back office or administrative functions (A) in 1997 and (B) at the latest date for which information is available.

Charles Clarke: holding answer 14 July 2004
	As at 1 July 2004, 4,440 people were employed in my Department. The numbers employed in the functions listed were:
	(i) 239 (5 per cent.) in human resources;
	(ii) 67 (1.5 per cent.) in finance and accounting;
	(iii) 248 (6 per cent.) in information technology, and
	(iv) 359 (8 per cent.) in other support, back office or administrative functions.
	By 2008, we have plans in place to reduce these to:
	(i) 145 in human resources;
	(ii) 51 in finance and accounting;
	(iii) 183 in information technology, and
	(iv) 299 in other support, back office or administrative functions.
	On 1 April 1997, 33,662 people were employed in the former Department for Education and Employment, of whom 29,181 were in the Employment Service Agency. My Department does not hold numbers by the listed functions as at this date.
	A breakdown of people by job title and job function could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Education (Islington)

Chris Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding has been made available in each year since 1997 and for projected future years for education in schools within the area of the London Borough of Islington; whether these amounts include those sums made directly to headteachers of both primary and secondary schools; and whether it is possible to provide a breakdown of overall funding on a school-by-school basis.

David Miliband: The Department does not produce projected figures for future years. The available information about funding in Islington local education authority is contained in the following tables.
	
		Total funding available in cash terms in Islington LEA for all pupils -- £ million
		
			  Aged 3–10 Aged 11–15 
		
		
			 1997–98 45.2 30.9 
			 1998–99 48.7 32.7 
			 1999–2000 54.2 34.8 
			 2000–01 60.6 40.8 
			 2001–02 66.1 44.2 
			 2002–03 70 46.6 
			 2003–04 75.9 51 
			 2004–05 79.5 54.3 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The funding and budget figures quoted are derived from different sources and are not directly comparable.
	2. The funding figures in the table are not available by sector as this is not how allocations are made to LEAs.
	3. Therefore, these figures are not those sums given directly to headteachers, but the funding allocated to LEAs in terms of Education Formula Spending for pupils fading into age groups 3–10 and 11–15.
	4. Figures reflect education Standard Spending Assessment/Education Formula Spending settlement (all sub-blocks), plus all revenue grants in DfES Departmental Expenditure Limits relevant to EFS pupils aged 3–10 and 11–15.
	5. Figures exclude Education Maintenance Allowance and grants not allocated at LEA level and the pensions transfer to EFS and Learning and Skills Council for 2003–04 and 2004–05.
	6. The pupil numbers used are those underlying the SSA/EFS settlement calculations plus PLASC 3-year-olds maintained pupils and estimated 3–4 year olds funded through state support in maintained and other educational institutions where these are not included in the SSA pupil numbers.
	7. 1997–98 figures for LEAs subject to Local Government Reorganisation in that year have been estimated, pro-rata to their post LGR figures.
	8. 2003–04 and 2004–05 figures are provisional as some grants have not yet been finalised/audited.
	9. Figures are rounded to the nearest £0.1 million.
	
		School listing for Islington of budget shares and associated grants
		
			   Total 
			 DfES Name DfES No. 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Kate Greenaway Nursery School 1033 0 0 0 0 377,858 
			 Margaret McMillan Nursery School 1009 0 0 0 0 1,040,846 
			 North Islington Nursery School 1047 0 0 0 0 703,945 
			 Ambler Primary School 2015 995,310 1,120,719 1,237,659 1,274,033 1,245,702 
			 Angel Primary School; London 2465 543,534 666,531 250,127 0 0 
			 Ashmount Infant School; London 2824 591,887 770,978 0 0 0 
			 Ashmount Junior School; London 2809 692,514 670,109 0 0 0 
			 Ashmount Primary School 2809 0 0 1,468,030 1,457,811 1,496,775 
			 Blessed Sacrament RC Primary School 3643 520,048 611,603 645,987 695,558 771,513 
			 Canonbury Primary School 2854 994,990 1,137,350 1,191,548 1,295,612 1,376,684 
			 Charles Lamb Primary School 2101 829,623 965,568 906,531 933,343 408,066 
			 Christ The King RC Primary School 3633 944,318 1,034,891 1,112,168 1,178,104 1,243,244 
			 Clerkenwell Parochial CofE Primary School 3334 469,642 536,329 573,617 630,887 682,464 
			 Copenhagen Primary School 2128 695,012 778,110 857,819 973,782 1,070,168 
			 Drayton Park Primary School 2166 746,184 848,389 909,990 963,340 1,005,869 
			 Duncombe Primary School 2170 1,076,611 1,206,824 1,231,173 1,358,844 1,478,242 
			 Ecclesboume Primary School 2182 781,328 868,265 889,593 976,998 433,864 
			 Gillespie Primary School 2251 575,878 674,856 705,181 782,496 814,461 
			 Grafton Primary School 2261 1,014,306 1,207,937 1,333,587 1,413,558 1,534,664 
			 Hanover Primary School 2279 829,884 970,579 1,007,333 1,063,684 1,116,036 
			 Hargrave Park Primary School 2282 670,347 762,922 855,261 973,713 1,011,515 
			 Highbury Quadrant Primary School 2805 998,423 1,162,262 1,193,423 1,397,746 1,507,592 
			 Hugh Myddelton Primary School 2855 917,372 1,116,773 1,170,871 1,327,444 1,387,188 
			 Hungerford Primary School 2851 1,010,859 1,176,175 1,252,418 1,361,158 1,480,384 
			 Laycock Primary School 2379 1,287,921 1,483,837 1,531,912 1,687,623 1,752,438 
			 Montem Primary School 2852 1,002,968 1,210,872 1,275,293 1,389,797 1,570,442 
			 Moorfields Primary School 2427 517,252 625,370 629,682 638,876 613,507 
			 Moreland Primary School 2429 932,397 1,159,768 1,176,843 1,252,281 1,289,439 
			 Newington Green Primary School 2853 1,143,937 1,481,897 1,517,929 1,599,536 1,678,116 
			 Pakeman Primary School 2455 840,048 971,302 1,009,815 1,058,619 1,149,505 
			 Poole's Park Primary School 2856 1,004,530 1,146,327 1,259,264 1,269,317 1,390,364 
			 Prior Weston Primary School 2850 485,279 575,945 624,300 629,147 703,505 
			 Robert Blair Primary School 2515 929,482 1,106,939 1,137,627 1,303,000 1,345,681 
			 Rotherfield Primary School 2857 922,050 1,131,396 1,184,146 1,271,272 1,345,653 
			 Sacred Heart RC Primary School 3384 802,901 943,801 964,172 1,048,697 1,106,671 
			 New North Community Primary School 3644 0 0 0 0 1,065,149 
			 St. Andrew's (Barnsbury) Church of England Primary School 3606 487,011 568,887 563,315 569,910 613,363 
			 St. Joan of Arc RC Primary School 3631 891,265 978,131 1,048,204 1,126,637 1,206,333 
			 St. John Evangelist RC Primary School 3456 644,013 744,031 777,359 881,047 947,364 
			 St. John's Highbury Vale CofE Primary School 3471 471,856 540,870 565,493 622,702 653,895 
			 St. John's Upper Holloway CofE Primary School 3465 527,312 587,339 651,024 729,365 757,715 
			 St. Joseph's RC Primary School 3483 920,600 1,054,484 1,082,791 1,221,004 1,326,312 
			 St. Jude and St. Paul's CofE Primary School 3488 495,873 629,958 637,381 716,420 747,208 
			 St. Luke's CofE Primary School 3495 572,173 681,402 717,949 789,041 866,036 
			 St. Mark's CofE Primary School 3501 499,461 559,465 586,538 677,676 726,810 
			 St. Mary Magdalene CofE Primary School 3514 487,144 584,355 593,223 633,477 731,409 
			 St. Mary's CofE Primary School 3527 484,467 567,242 621,487 672,762 655,684 
			 St. Peter and St. Paul RC Primary School 3575 528,293 603,380 686,064 710,765 753,132 
			 Thornhill Primary School 2596 997,464 1,075,593 1,146,367 1,246,177 1,313,166 
			 Tufnell Park Primary School 2803 777,477 852,065 877,152 943,266 1,029,665 
			 Vittoria Primary School 2624 593,451 710,067 762,901 797,925 856,065 
			 William Tyndale Primary School 2643 969,134 1,094,702 1,167,090 1,261,887 1,367,017 
			 Winton Primary School 2646 829,500 961,531 1,052,739 1,145,047 1,209,967 
			 Yerbury Primary School 2666 1,037,989 1,105,535 1,195,047 1,290,095 1,357,835 
			 Central Foundation Boys' School 4614 2,592,103 2,950,964 3,059,376 3,164,221 3,586,448 
			 Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Language College 4324 3,690,136 4,473,966 4,806,966 5,169,635 5,581,970 
			 Highbury Fields School 4307 2,627,092 2,927,122 3,207,707 3,408,890 3,737,783 
			 Highbury Grove School 4108 3,905,761 4,710,794 4,856,181 5,109,266 5,572,322 
			 Holloway School 4112 2,187,818 2,381,100 2,553,172 3,104,795 3,745,773 
			 Islington Arts and Media School 4325 2,412,546 2,775,933 3,192,542 3,546,206 4,412,300 
			 Islington Green School 4211 3,491,276 4,043,208 4,219,462 4,526,252 4,749,200 
			 Mount Carmel RC Technology College for Girls 4704 2,084,650 2,417,423 2,663,835 2,738,208 3,069,604 
			 St. Aloysius R.C College 4651 2,889,422 3,377,542 3,580,144 3,670,923 3,848,747 
			 Richard Cloudesley PH School 7030 823,920 906,143 956,347 1,242,464 1,330,829 
			 Samuel Rhodes MLD School 7146 795,851 880,617 942,796 1,094,550 1,183,007 
			 The Bridge School 7031 0 0 0 2,593,956 2,872,661 
			 Harborough AUT School; London 7158 738,342 807,257 854,634 0 0 
			 Rosemary SLD School; London 7170 1,263,956 1,365,122 1,454,244 0 0 
			 Total allocated — 67,484,191 78,040,852 82,182,829 88,610,845 98,007,167 
			 Unallocated — 4,915,592 3,372,366 4,330,300 3,890,007 1,750,172 
			 Total — 72,399,783 81,413,218 86,513,129 92,500,852 99,757,339 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The funding and budget figures quoted are derived from different sources and are not directly comparable.
	2. The total funding figure for 2000–01 comprises the following grants: Budget share (excludes SSG), Standards Fund Devolved (includes EiC grant).
	3. The total funding figure for 2001–02 comprises the following grants: Budget share (excludes SSG), Standards Fund Devolved (includes EiC grant).
	4. The total funding figure for 2002–03 comprises the following grants: Budget share (excludes SSG), Standards Fund Devolved (includes EiC grant).
	5. The total funding figure for 2003–04 comprises the following grants: Budget share (excludes SSG), Standards Fund Devolved (includes EiC grant), School Standards Grant.
	6. The total funding figure for 2004–05 comprises the following grants: Budget share (excludes SSG), Standards Fund Devolved (includes EiC grant), School Standards Grant, Devolved EiC Grant.
	7. Data are as reported through the Section 52 statements and do not capture all grant funding. Data for budget 2003–04 and 2004–05 are likely to change.
	8. Table 2 of the section 52 statements records the amounts of grants allocated to schools and the amount unallocated at the point at which the section 52 return was compiled. In budget 2004–05, Table 1 indicates that Islington had allocated £463,000 for "support for schools in financial difficulty" and £300,000 for "advance of transitional grant" but this was not broken down to school level on Table 2.
	9. All data are as reported by LEAs as at 20 July on the Section 52 budget statements and does not capture all grant funding.

Education Funding

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the (a) lowest, (b) average and (c) highest per pupil funding was for each local education authority in England in each of the last 25 years, listed in descending order according to the highest average per pupil spend for the most recent year available.

David Miliband: Funding for education is provided by the Government to each local education authority. Figures on the total revenue funding per pupil by local education authority are available from 1997–98 onwards. The following table shows the lowest and highest funding per pupil and the national average for each year. Figures are all in real terms.
	
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 National average 2,900 2,950 3,080 3,330 
			 Lowest (£) 2,530 2,640 2,750 2,940 
			 Lowest LEA Dudley South Gloucestershire Swindon South Gloucestershire 
			  
			 Highest (£) 4,550 4,580 4,800 5,160 
			 Highest LEA Lambeth Lambeth Tower Hamlets Tower Hamlets 
		
	
	
		
		
			  2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
			 National average 3,490 3,580 3,710 3,840 
			 Lowest (£) 3,040 3,140 3,260 3,370 
			 Lowest LEA South Gloucestershire South Gloucestershire Leicestershire Leicestershire 
			  
			 Highest (£) 5,450 5,620 5,820 6,000 
			 Highest LEA Tower Hamlets Tower Hamlets Tower Hamlets Tower Hamlets 
		
	
	2004–05 and 2003–04 figures are provisional as some grants have not yet been finalised/audited. Updates will be available in the autumn.

Education Funding

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much capital investment there has been in education, at today's prices, in each local education authority in each of the last 25 years.

David Miliband: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

Educational Attainment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will provide a breakdown of achievement at each Key Stage in 2003 by ethnicity subdivided into those (a) in receipt of and (b) not in receipt of free school meals.

David Miliband: holding answer 22 July 2004
	The information requested has been placed in the House Library.

Ethnic Minority Students

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of (a) full-time undergraduate students, (b) post-graduate students and (c) full-time students taking higher degrees through taught courses were from ethnic minority backgrounds (i) in 1997 and (ii) in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Alan Johnson: The latest available figures are shown in the table.
	
		Proportion of HE students from ethnic minorities(36)UK HE institutions -- Percentage
		
			  1996/97 2002/03 2 
		
		
			 Full-time undergraduates 15 20 
			 All postgraduates 15 22 
			 Full-time taught postgraduates 26 34 
		
	
	(36) Based on those students who provided details of their ethnicity.
	(37) A new classification of ethnicity was introduced in 2001/02. The figures for 2002/03 include students recorded as "mixed white/ethnic" who were not separately identified in 1996/97.

Full- and Part-time Students

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students pursuing a higher degree through taught courses were (a) full-time and (b) part-time in (i) 1996–97 and (ii) 2002–03; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: The figures are shown in the table.
	
		Students on postgraduate taught courses(38) UK HE institutions
		
			  1996/97 2002/03 
		
		
			 Full-time 71,400 137,900 
			 Part-time 152,300 193,900 
			 Total 223,700 331,800 
		
	
	(38) Covers students on taught Masters, taught Doctorates and other postgraduate taught courses

Gap Year

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students are expected to take a gap year in 2004–05.

Alan Johnson: Information for 2004/05 is not yet available. The latest available information from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) shows that 26,400 students who obtained a place on a full-time undergraduate course in autumn 2003, deferred entry to 2004. This figure will not however include students who take a gap year before they apply to UCAS.

Green Minister

John Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the activities of the Green Minister in the Department in financial year 2003–04.

David Miliband: The Secretary of State for Education and Skills, is DfES's Green Minister and in this role is a member of the Ministerial Committees of Green Ministers. However, it has been established practice under successive Governments not to disclose information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees.
	This Department leads on education for sustainable development, and to promote this and raise public awareness and understanding of sustainable development, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State launched the Sustainable Development action plan for Education and Skills on 23 September 2003. This plan commits this Department to work with our partner organisations and other Government Departments to ensure that sustainable development is an integral part of education and in skills development of this country and its economy.

Higher Education

Lorna Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of people from the constituency of Rochdale have participated in higher education in each year since 1997; and what percentage are of South Asian descent.

Alan Johnson: Participation rates are not calculated by the Department for each parliamentary constituency. The available information covering students domiciled in Rochdale constituency who are enrolled on a higher education course is given in the table. Enrolments by those of South Asian descent are not held centrally. The available information covers those of Asian descent.
	
		Number(39) of HE enrolments at UK HE institutions by students domiciled in Rochdale constituency and the percentage of Asian(40) descent
		
			   Of which: 
			 Academic year HE students from Rochdale Number with known ethnicity Percentage Asian descent 
		
		
			 1997/98 1,880 1,640 26 
			 1998/99 1,935 1,695 27 
			 1999/2000 2,155 1,925 28 
			 2000/01 2,205 1,995 29 
			 2001/02(41) 2,435 2,210 30 
			 2002/03 2,570 2,395 32 
		
	
	(39) Figures are rounded to the nearest 0 or 5.
	(40) "Asian" includes the ethnic categories "Asian or Asian British—Indian, Asian or Asian British—Bangladeshi", "Asian or Asian British—Pakistani", Chinese/Other Ethnic Background—Chinese', "Other Asian Background" and for 2001/02 onwards, "Mixed—White and Asian".
	(41) In 2001/02 a more detailed ethnicity categorisation was introduced by HESA which included new codes for those of mixed ethnicity. Prior to 2001/02 we do not know if those in the category "Mixed—White and Asian" would have classed themselves in the "white" category or in one of the Asian categories. Thus, figures for 2001/02 onwards may not be directly comparable with those for earlier years.
	Source:
	Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Higher Education

Lorna Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average participation rate in higher education is of each parliamentary constituency; and what the average level of participation in higher education is of those of South Asian descent.

Alan Johnson: Higher Education participation rates are not calculated by the Department at constituency level.
	Information on HE participation by ethnic group is published in Table A1 of the publication "Why the Difference? A Closer Look at Higher Education Minority Ethnic Students and Graduates", copies of which can be downloaded from: http://www.employment-studies.co. uk/pubs/report.php?id=rr552

Holiday Playschemes

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will estimate the average weekly cost in each region of a place on a holiday playscheme; and if he will make a statement on holiday playscheme provision.

Margaret Hodge: The Government does not collect data on the cost of holiday playschemes.

Job Losses (Civil Servants)

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many of the reductions in the numbers of civil servants in his Department announced in the comprehensive spending review will be of special advisors.

Charles Clarke: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I have given to my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, on 20 July 2004, Official report, column 90W.

Ministerial Travel

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total cost of air travel between Northern Ireland and Great Britain was for (a) Ministers and (b) officials in the Department in the latest year for which figures are available.

David Miliband: Information relating to travel within the UK for both Ministers and officials is not held centrally and hence could be supplied only at disproportionate cost. However, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. These report information reaching back to 1995–96. Information for 2003–04 is currently being assembled and will be published shortly. All ministerial and civil service travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code, Travel by Ministers, and Civil Service Management Code, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Nursery Education

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria are used for admission to neighbourhood nurseries which are oversubscribed.

Stephen Twigg: Neighbourhood nurseries are intended to provide child care and early education places for children under five in the most disadvantaged areas of the country. Providers that have set up a neighbourhood nursery are required to ensure that they give priority to children and families who live within the target area. It is for individual providers to establish their own admissions policy and determine how they will deal with oversubscription. However, in doing so they must meet this requirement. We expect providers and the local authority to monitor the position on an annual basis.

Nursery Education

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how the nursery education grant budget was spent in 2003–04.

Margaret Hodge: The information is not available in the form requested. From April 2003, local authorities (LAs) no longer received funds through the Nursery Education Grant. Funds were consolidated within the under-fives sub-block of the Education Formula Spending Share (EFSS)—their main education budget. It is for individual LAs in consultation with local partners to determine how overall resources should be used.
	All LAs received sufficient funding to enable them to meet their statutory responsibilities to provide free nursery education for three and four year olds. The overall EFSS under fives sub-block in 2003–04 was worth some £2.6 billion.

Out-of-school Clubs

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many out of school clubs are operating in England; and how many places are available at these clubs for children aged (a) five to 10 years and (b) 11 years and over.

Margaret Hodge: The Department is unable to provide the data in the form requested. In March 2004 there were 9,200 registered out of school childcare clubs 1 offering 326,700 places for children aged five to seven years. At the same time there were more than 2,600 unregistered out of school childcare clubs 1 offering more than 89,300 places. These are mainly for children aged over seven, but also include breakfast clubs of less than two hours, which may cater for younger children and do not need to be registered.
	The Government's objective is that all schools should offer a programme of out of school hours study support. For 2004–05, all local education authorities and schools have received Government funding through the School Development Grant to support such activities. This is in addition to funding to support the creation of new childcare places made available as part of the General Sure Start Grant for 2004–06. It is for local authorities and schools to determine what provision will best meet the needs of the young people in the area.
	1 These figures include holiday play schemes.

Policies (Environmental Impacts)

John Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many new policy proposals or significant changes in policy were produced by his Department in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04; how many of these were screened for their environmental impacts; and how many were the subject of separate environmental appraisals.

David Miliband: The Department for Education and Skills produces a Regulatory Impact Assessment where a proposed policy is likely to have an impact on business, charities and the voluntary sector. The Regulatory Impact Assessment includes an environmental impact appraisal where this is deemed appropriate. In 2002–03, 2003–04, none of the Department's Regulatory Impact Assessments have included an environmental assessment.

Pre-school Education

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much, at today's prices, was spent on education of children aged under three years in each of the last 10 years.

Margaret Hodge: This information is not available centrally. All funding for under fives has been consolidated within the Education Formula Spending Share (EFSS)—the main source of funding for local authorities and schools. The resources are unhypothecated and it is for individual local authorities to determine funding priorities in the light of local needs and circumstances. In doing so, they must meet their statutory obligation to provide free part-time early education for three and four year olds. In 2003–04 overall funding in the EFSS under fives sub-block was worth some £2.6 billion.
	My right hon. Friend the Chancellor announced in the context of SR 2004, proposals to provide free early education and care for more disadvantaged children through running pilots to reach 12,000 two year olds in disadvantaged areas. Details have yet to be finalised, although we are clear that any offer to two year olds should be underpinned by the widely welcomed 'Birth to three matters: A framework to support children in their earliest years'.

Primary Education (Tamworth)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average (a) infant and (b) primary school class size was in Tamworth constituency in each year since 1992.

David Miliband: The requested information at constituency level is available from 1997 and is given in the table.
	
		Maintained primary schools(42)average size of classes taught by one teacher(43)position in January each year.1997 to 2004 (provisional v2)Tamworth Parliamentary Constituency(44)
		
			  Key stage one Primary 
			  Number of pupils Number of classes Average class size Number of pupils Number of classes Average class size 
		
		
			 1997 3,510 130 26.4 8,670 320 27.5 
			 1998 3,550 140 25.5 8,600 320 26.9 
			 1999 3,500 140 25.5 8,330 310 27.1 
			 2000 3,370 130 25.5 8,300 310 27.0 
			 2001 3,150 130 23.8 8,100 310 25.9 
			 2002 3,200 140 23.3 8,020 320 25.2 
			 2003(45) 2,970 120 24.0 7,580 300 25.4 
			 20044,5 3,020 120 24.5 7,570 300 25.4 
		
	
	(42) Includes middle schools as deemed
	(43) Classes as taught during the one selected period in each school on the day of the census in January.
	(44) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	(45) Includes reception classes,
	(46) Provisional
	Source:
	Annual schools census

Private Children's Homes (Inspections)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his Department's target is for the percentage of (a) announced and (b) unannounced inspections of private children's homes which should be undertaken by the Commission for Social Care Inspectorate.

Margaret Hodge: The frequency of inspections for children's homes regulated by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) is set out in The Commission for Social Care Inspection (Fees and Frequency of Inspections) Regulations. The Regulations require CSCI to inspect children's homes a minimum of twice in a 12 month period. Each of these inspections may be unannounced, however, general practice by CSCI Inspectors is to perform one announced inspection and one unannounced inspection in a 12 month period. These are minimum requirements and do not preclude CSCI visiting any number of times if there is cause for concern.

Regional Employment and Skills

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been spent on the (a) Regional Skills Partnerships and (b) Regional Employment and Skills forums since their inception.

Ivan Lewis: No additional central funding has been made available for either Regional Skills Partnerships or Regional Employment and Skills Forums.
	The creation of (a) effective Regional Skills Partnerships and (b) Regional Employment and Skills Forums was funded from within the existing budgets of partner organisations.

School Choices

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children in (a) Adur, (b) Worthing and (c) West Sussex failed to get into the school of their first choice in each year since 1997; and how many of those subsequently appealed in each of those years.

David Miliband: Information on the number of pupils admitted to their first choice school is not collected centrally.
	Admission appeal data are not available at parliamentary constituency level. A table giving admission appeal information for all local education authority areas has been placed in the House of Commons Library (Official Report column 1430W on 23 June 2004). Final figures from 1997/98 to 2001/02 have been provided. Further details on the latest 2002/03 (provisional) figures on admission appeals by local education authority can be found on http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgatewav/DB/SFR/s00047Q/index.shtml.

School Furniture

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what (a) assessment his Department has made and (b) guidance he has issued on the ergonomics of school furniture.

David Miliband: In 2001 my Department oversaw and part-funded the largest data collection of children's sizes since the 1950's, and contributed to a European Standard on School Furniture (due at the end of this year) to allow children to be better "fitted" to several furniture size marks. An interactive website is being prepared which will enable specifiers to accurately determine the size of furniture that a child should be using. Published in 2000, my Department's Furniture and Equipment Guide has detailed section on design quality with ergonomic considerations for various types of adjustable furniture. The Department is represented on relevant BSI committees and works closely with, amongst others the British Educational Supplies Association, the furniture Industry Research Association and the Design Council on furniture issues.

School Furniture

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research his Department has commissioned into the impact on children's long term health of poorly designed school furniture.

Stephen Twigg: My Department has neither undertaken nor commissioned research into the effects on children's health of poorly designed furniture, but is aware of a number of studies carried out by others on issues such back pain. We are advised that the main cause of such problems is often the use of inappropriately sized furniture rather than poor design.

School Staff (Tamworth)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) teachers and (b) education support staff there were in Tamworth constituency in each year since 1992.

David Miliband: The following table gives the full-time equivalent number of regular teachers and support staff employed in maintained sector schools in Tamworth constituency for each year from 1997 to 2003, the latest year available. Data are not available at constituency level prior to 1997.
	
		
			  Teachers Support staff 1 
		
		
			 2003 780 380 
			 2002 780 350 
			 2001 760 330 
			 2000 750 280 
			 1999 750 270 
			 1998 750 250 
			 1997 760 230 
		
	
	(47) Includes teaching assistants, administrative staff, technicians, medical and other child care and education support staff.
	Source:
	Annual School Census

School Teachers (Retirement)

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the effects of the Government's proposals in the Pensions Bill on the future retirement of school teachers.

David Miliband: In line with proposals in the Pensions Bill, the normal pension age in the Teachers' Pension Scheme will be increased to 65. This will apply to new entrants from 2006 and to the future service of existing teachers from 2013. Teachers will, however, still be able to retire at, before or after age 60 as they do now. Where pension benefits are drawn earlier than the normal pension age, they will be reduced to reflect the fact that the benefits will be in payment for longer.
	We are also looking at ways of offering teachers more flexibility in the way they manage the transition from work to retirement as well as examining the scope for increasing the options for teachers who wish to build up higher pension benefits by paying additional contributions during their working life.

School Teachers (Retirement)

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment has been made by his Department of the changes that will take place in the terms and conditions of the Teacher's Pensions Scheme with the introduction of the Government's new pension proposals; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: As part of a package of changes to the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) relating to the increase in the normal pension age (NPA) from 60 to 65, consideration is being given to a number of changes that will improve scheme benefits, increase flexibility and offer greater retirement options for teachers. Suggestions for change to the TPS are included on the TeacherNet website www.teachernet.gov.uk/pensions which will form the basis of a consultation planned to take place during the Autumn term 2004. One of the priorities that has been recognised is the introduction of pension benefits for unmarried partners. It is expected that the introduction of NPA of 65 will enable this improvement to be introduced without an increase in the contribution to the TPS made by individual teachers.

School Teachers (Retirement)

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions his Department has had with teachers' unions on the impact of the Government's pension proposals; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: Teachers' Unions, are fully and actively involved in the review of the Teachers' Pension Scheme through their membership of the Teachers' Superannuation Working Party (TSWP) and its sub-group, the Teachers' Pensions Review Group (TPRG), that is taking forward the detailed work on the scheme review. The TPRG has met on five separate occasions during 2004 and the TSWP met on 13 October 2003 and 29 June 2004. Further meetings will take place with the teacher unions throughout the remainder of the scheme review.

Student Debt

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate his Department has made of the amount of debt a student graduating in (a) 2004, (b) 2005 and (c) 2006 will have.

Alan Johnson: Information on the total amount of debt on leaving higher education, including private sector debt, is not collected annually, although we do estimate it in successive student income and expenditure surveys. It will depend on a wide range of factors, including: whether an individual takes out a Government student loan; how much student loan they are eligible for; how many years they spend in HE over which to amass their debt; whether they take out any commercial debt or build up overdrafts; and whether they have any loans from family or friends. The latest 2002/3 Student Income and Expenditure Survey showed that students graduating in 2003 anticipated leaving with an average total debt of £8,666. During the passage of the Higher Education Act through Parliament we estimated that this might rise to an average debt of about £15,000, once students paying variable fees have graduated. The 2004/5 Student Income and Expenditure Survey—which is expected to report in early 2005—will provide an estimate of total debt on leaving HE for those graduating in 2004.
	Individuals with government student loans leaving higher education in 2004—whether on course completion or withdrawal—will enter repayment status in April 2005. The average income-contingent student loan debt to government, for full-time students entering repayment status in April 2005, is estimated at around £7,700. Estimates for those entering repayment in April 2006 and 2007 are, respectively, around £8,000 and £9,000. Figures are reported in nominal prices including inflation.

Sure Start

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the budget cuts recently announced for Sure Start were cuts previously announced for the 2004–05 budget; if he will make a statement on how the cuts will be made; and what impact assessment his Department has made of the effect of the cuts on the Sure Start programme.

Margaret Hodge: The Government remain strongly committed to Sure Start. The 2004 spending review settlement is £1,167 million, £1,483 million and £1,667 million for 2005–06, 2006–07 and 2007–08 respectively.
	In addition the Government are streamlining the administration of the programme in order to concentrate resources on the front line. The Sure Start Unit's administrative budget has been reduced by approximately 5 per cent. on a broadly like for like basis between 2003–04 and 2004–05. Programme budgets have not been reduced.

Sure Start

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 13 July 2004, to question reference 182841, on Sure Start, how many children are receiving services from the Sure Start centre at King's Heath, Northampton.

Stephen Twigg: Pursuant to the previous question answered on 13 July, which asked "how many children in Northampton North have received services from a Sure Start centre". The Sure Start centre in King's Heath is one of two satellite centres developed by the Northampton Sure Start local programme. The programme operates out of its main building, the Camrose Centre, and has developed two satellite centres at Kings Heath and St. James. The Kings Heath satellite delivers a range of Sure Start services, including a medical service and "need to know" shop, which gives a range of advice on areas such as benefits, housing and other statutory services.
	Monitoring figures are collected only for the Sure Start Local Programme as a whole. We are not able to give a separate breakdown of figures for the two satellite centres. Sure Start Northampton (Camrose Centre) has a register of 685 children who access its services. In March 2004 155 (23 per cent.) children under four years living in the catchment area had accessed services. The annual average of children seen is 19 per cent.
	These figures include the St. James and Kings Heath centres.

Sure Start

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much of the 2003–04 budget for Sure Start was allocated to (a) capital expenditure, (b) internal management costs, (c) running costs for children's centres, (d) health within children's centres and (e) nursery education in Sure Start.

Margaret Hodge: In 2003–04, £116 million was spent on Sure Start capital programmes. Over this period total administration expenditure was £13 million.
	Funding for children's centres was due to start on 1 April 2004. However, £3.2 million of revenue funding was brought forward to allow local authorities to make an early start with development in 2003–04.
	Children's centre health services are integrated with other services and are mainly paid for by Primary Care Trusts. It is not possible to provide a separate figure for health expenditure in children's centres.
	The information on nursery education is not available in the form requested. From April 2003, Nursery Education Grant was consolidated within the under-fives sub-block of the Education Formula Spending Share (EFSS)—local authorities' main education budget. It is for individual LAs in consultation with local partners to determine how overall resources should be used.
	All LAs received sufficient funding to enable them to meet their statutory responsibilities to provide free nursery education for three and four-year-olds. The overall EFSS under fives sub-block in 2003–04 was £2.6 billion.

University Students/Results

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research his Department has commissioned on changes in results achieved on university courses over the last 10 years.

Alan Johnson: Information on the degree classifications of newly qualified graduates has been collected and published annually since 1994/95 by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) at www.hesa.ac.uk. The latest figures show that, in 2002/03, 55 per cent. of graduates gained a first class or upper second class degree, compared to 47 per cent. in 1994/95.

University Students/Results

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students were offered university places for 2003–04; how many students took up places at universities in 2003–04; and how many students dropped out during the academic year 2003–04.

Alan Johnson: Details of the offers made to students are matters for individual institutions and are not held centrally. The latest information from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) shows that 646,000 students began undergraduate courses in English institutions in autumn 2003/04. Information on the non-completion rates of these students is not yet available, but the latest figures from HEFCE (based on students entering in 2000/01) indicate that 16 per cent. of full-time first degree students in the UK did not complete their studies.

WORK AND PENSIONS

BACS

Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress his Department has made to manage the changeover from the Bank Automated Clearing System to the new BACSTEL-IP system for electronic payments.

Chris Pond: The Department is not part of the current programme to move to the new BACSTEL-IP method of transmitting data for benefit payments. DWP has a full and active liaison in place with its sponsor bank and BACS Ltd., to change over to another new system within a longer timeframe.

Employment Records

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will bring forward legislation to permit employees to gain access to records of their employment stored by employers in unstructured manual form; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: I have been asked to reply.
	Individuals' right of access to their employment and other records is regulated by the Data Protection Act 1998, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000. We have no plans to extend the application of the 1998 Act to unstructured manual personnel records.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Dog Excrement

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many tonnes of dog excrement is estimated to have been collected by local authorities from public byways and spaces in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by authority;
	(2)  what the estimated cost to local authorities of collecting dog excrement from public byways and spaces was in the latest period for which figures are available; and what percentage of local council budgets this figure represents;
	(3)  how many personnel she estimates are employed by local authorities (a) full-time and (b) part-time in the collection of dog excrement from public byways and spaces;
	(4)  what she estimates the cost of employing personnel in (a) cleaning up and (b) recycling dog excrement from public byways and spaces was in each year for which figures are available, broken down by local authority.

Alun Michael: The Government does not collect consolidated figures on how much each local authority spends on collecting dog excrement but the ENCAMS report on local environmental quality showed that there was a reduction in dog fouling in 2003 compared to 2002.

Agriculture

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate her Department has made of agriculture (a) gross value and (b) gross profitability for each year for the last 10 years for which records are available, broken down by (i) region and (ii) agricultural sector.

Alun Michael: We do not have data for gross value and gross profitability by region and agricultural sector. We do, however, have data for total farm output (a reflection of gross value) and net farm income. The trends shown by net farm income could reasonably be expected to reflect those shown by gross profitability.
	Total farm output and net farm income in England are shown by region and by farm type in the tables.
	
		Table 1: Total output and net farm income by regions in England—All farm types -- £ per farm
		
			  England: North England: East England: West 
			  All farm types All farm types All farm types 
			  Total farm output Net farm income Total farm output Net farm income Total farm output Net farm income 
		
		
			 1993–94 126,000 25,700 160,200 25,300 116,400 20,600 
			 1994–95 131,000 29,000 175,200 33,300 124,300 23,400 
			 1995–96 148,000 36,600 201,000 46,800 142,800 29,800 
			 1996–97 147,800 29,800 197,900 36,600 138,500 22,600 
			 1997–98 125,700 13,600 171,400 16,300 124,900 11,300 
			 1998–99 115,800 8,300 167,300 13,200 116,900 8,900 
			 1999–2000 118,300 8,700 169,100 9,600 110,700 5,600 
			 2000–01 121,400 12,500 168,200 11,400 115,400 6,100 
			 2001–02 131,900 16,500 195,700 12,000 133,700 13,200 
			 2002–03 141,500 18,500 199,100 16,900 136,200 14,400 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Total farm output and net farm income by farm type in England -- £ per farm
		
			  England 
			  Dairy LFA cattle and sheep Lowland cattle and sheep 
			  Total farm output Net farm income Total farm output Net farm income Total farm output Net farm income 
		
		
			 1993–94 142,100 34,900 67,600 16,700 69,400 8,600 
			 1994–95 146,200 30,300 64,200 14,400 58,700 7,200 
			 1995–96 163,800 36,200 75,700 18,100 69,600 9,300 
			 1996–97 163,400 30,400 77,500 18,800 66,700 7,400 
			 1997–98 145,800 19,800 70,800 12,000 54,400 900 
			 1998–99 127,300 11,700 63,500 5,700 55,400 700 
			 1999–2000 134,100 9,400 61,700 5,300 57,200 400 
			 2000–01 141,700 14,000 65,400 5,800 56,000 -400 
			 2001–02 174,000 30,700 63,200 7,900 66,500 0 
			 2002–03 156,400 18,300 78,700 18,000 75,000 5,800 
		
	
	
		£ per farm
		
			  England 
			  Horticulture Cereals General cropping 
			  Total farm output Net farm income Total farm output Net farm income Total farm output Net farm income 
		
		
			 1993–94 173,100 20,200 126,000 22,800 200,000 36,000 
			 1994–95 195,400 27,400 135,400 30,400 224,600 56,000 
			 1995–96 190,300 24,600 155,700 46,600 258,500 67,300 
			 1996–97 192,900 27,700 159,000 40,700 234,400 36,500 
			 1997–98 195,000 21,300 132,500 14,400 213,000 19,500 
			 1998–99 206,100 22,700 120,600 7,700 231,400 32,100 
			 1999–2000 203,300 19,500 123,900 11,700 207,200 8,000 
			 2000–01 227,200 21,900 125,000 6,200 220,500 18,400 
			 2001–02 261,300 31,800 136,000 4,100 237,300 17,900 
			 2002–03 255,400 34,100 149,000 12,100 233,600 14,500 
		
	
	
		£ per farm
		
			  England 
			  Pigs and poultry Mixed All farm types 
			  Total farm output Net farm income Total farm output Net farm income Total farm output Net farm income 
		
		
			 1993–94 233,800 8,700 172,800 23,400 135,900 23,800 
			 1994–95 276,300 22,900 188,000 31,300 146,100 28,800 
			 1995–96 332,600 53,800 225,000 48,400 166,500 38,200 
			 1996–97 352,000 49,800 220,200 37,000 163,100 29,800 
			 1997–98 290,700 16,300 191,200 8,100 142,900 13,800 
			 1998–99 244,700 -13,600 177,500 2,100 135,700 10,400 
			 1999–2000 275,400 -4,400 175,000 5,500 135,000 8,000 
			 2000–01 269,500 32,600 170,600 7,500 137,300 9,900 
			 2001–02 277,300 21,500 166,500 5,400 157,500 13,600 
			 2002–03 317,300 49,500 167,900 13,300 162,100 16,400 
		
	
	Source: Farm Business Survey
	Net farm income is the return to the principal farm and spouse for their manual and managerial labour and to the tenant-type capital of the business.

Agriculture and Fisheries Council

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the outcome was of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 19 July; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: I represented the United Kingdom at a meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels on 19 July 2004.
	The new Dutch Presidency presented its work programme for the next six months. Key themes will be sustainable agriculture and its public responsibilities, and initiatives to reduce the administrative burden on the industry.
	The Presidency and Commission presented plans for greater member state co-operation on agricultural research in order to maximise value for the money spent. The UK Government strongly supports this initiative.
	The Commission reported on negotiations with Russia to renew certification arrangements covering animal and animal product imports from the EU. The negotiations are currently deadlocked and the Presidency indicated that it was planning an intervention at political level in an attempt to unblock them.
	Member states were asked whether their views had changed with regard to a Commission proposal to authorise the marketing of a variety of GM maize which had failed to get qualified majority support in the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health. The UK has supported this approval on the basis of the safety assessments carried out and our position remained unchanged. Member states failed to give the proposal majority support, but if the Council fails to act within three months the Commission will have the authority to proceed with its approval.
	The Commission presented its proposal for a European Fisheries Fund to replace the existing Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG). The main focus will be to eliminate excess fishing capacity and use structural measures to reinforce stock recovery plans.
	The Council held a public debate on the Commission's new proposals for changes to the Rural Development Regulation. I stressed the need for more flexibility and better value, for a greater transfer of resources from Pillar 1 to Pillar 2 of the Common Agricultural Policy, for more emphasis on environmental schemes and for a fairer allocation of rural development resources. There will now be detailed negotiation at official level which will extend over a number of months.
	The Council also debated a new Commission communication on its preferred option for reform of the CAP sugar regime. The proposal calls for significant cuts in EU price support with a further review of the regime in 2008. I gave a general welcome to the proposals as a step in the right direction, while urging a swifter end to quotas and emphasising the need to address urgently the impacts on those developing countries which currently enjoy preferential access to the EU market. Again, the proposal will now be remitted for detailed consideration at official level.
	The Council was asked to vote on proposals to change the import tariffs for rice which the Commission has been negotiating with India, Pakistan, Thailand and the United States. The Commission had failed to get agreement with the last two countries which felt that the proposals increased tariffs to a degree that breached WTO rules. While welcoming the agreement with India and Pakistan, I voted against the proposal on the grounds that the Commission was seeking to implement the changes on a basis which was contested by some of the parties and that they should instead continue negotiations. The Council, however, voted by qualified majority to adopt the proposal although a number of those voting in favour urged the Commission to continue negotiating with the United States and Thailand with a view to reaching an agreed conclusion.
	The Presidency urged the Commission to come forward soon with proposals to address the illegal timber trade. I endorsed this call.
	In an informal exchange of views after the Council had ended, the Commission updated Ministers on the latest developments in the current round of WTO negotiations. I supported the Commission's efforts towards securing a framework agreement at the WTO General Council on 27 and 28 July.

Animal Welfare Bill

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she intends to publish the Animal Welfare Bill; and whether it will be a draft bill for pre-legislative scrutiny.

Ben Bradshaw: The draft Animal Welfare Bill was published on 14 July 2004 and will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by the EFRA Select Committee.

Auction Marts

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the role of auction marts in rural life; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: Auction markets play an important role in the marketing of farm animals, particularly between the different stages of production. As part of the wider rural development agenda, we are alert to the opportunities for business diversification in livestock auction markets. Processing and Marketing Grants and the Rural Enterprise Scheme have been used to develop the role of auction markets, such as at the Craven Cattle Market in Skipton.
	We also provide funds to the Red Meat Industry Forum which is working on ways of helping industry improve the competitiveness of red meat supply chains. This work includes auction markets.

Biodiversity

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what action the Government is taking to promote a biodiversity indicator for Europe to measure progress towards halting biodiversity decline by 2010;
	(2)  whether the Government intends to make representations to the European Commission to include a biodiversity indicator on the shortlist of indicators presented in its synthesis report to the 2005 EU Spring Summit.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has worked with the Commission, other Member States and stakeholders to agree a set of fifteen headline indicators to be used to measure progress towards the target of halting biodiversity loss in Europe by 2010. At the Council meeting in June, European Environment Ministers welcomed these proposals and urged the Commission to develop, test and finalise this set by 2006. Officials and experts from the UK are now engaged in a process led by the European Environment Agency to develop and test these indicators using the data which are currently available. The Government has advocated that one of the fifteen headline indicators should be used to represent biodiversity in the list of structural indicators reported to the Spring Council of Ministers.

Biodiversity

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the robustness of the Pan-European Common Bird Index as an indicator of biodiversity; and whether she will promote this index as the biodiversity indicator for Europe.

Ben Bradshaw: My officials, and statutory advisors, will review the suitability of indicators proposed by the Commission with regard to their scientific validity, relevance to the 2010 biodiversity target and public appeal. Provisional versions of a Pan-European Common Bird Index seen by officials appear to offer strong potential and present a similar picture for Europe as the UK farmland bird index.

Biofuels

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on tax on biofuels; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The Department is in regular contact with Treasury Ministers to discuss a whole range of matters related to energy and environmental policy. In addition, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, meets regularly with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on a wide range of matters that affect the business of the Department. As with all tax matters, decisions on tax incentives rest with the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of whether reported incidence of bovine TB in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003 offer a secure statistical baseline against which differences in incidence in 2004 may be measured.

Ben Bradshaw: TB testing was all but suspended during the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in 2001 and did not fully recover to pre-FMD levels until February 2002. The effect of this suspension of testing on the underlying trends in TB incidence for 2001 and subsequent years is hard to gauge, for the following reasons:
	The TB testing effort in 2002 was initially aimed at high-risk herds.
	Disease would have had more time to spread in herds where normally it might have been detected more quickly.
	Restocking of herds after FMD led to the disease being spread to areas it had not been found for some time.
	The level of testing in 2002 and 2003 required to clear the backlog was much higher than normal (the backlog was reduced to pre-FMD level by spring 2003).
	The trends seen in TB herd incidence and number of reactors slaughtered in 2001 and 2002 should, therefore, be treated with caution and are probably not comparable with those of earlier years. TB incidence rates and testing patterns for 2003 and 2004 appear to have settled down enough to make valid comparisons with pre-FMD trends.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the average costs to UK dairy farmers of providing biosecurity to ensure complete separation of cattle and badgers.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra has not carried out an assessment of the cost of complete separation. These will vary significantly from farm to farm. Improving biosecurity provides a range of benefits for many diseases. The measures that are taken should be based on a risk assessment approach and the costs of any specific measure balanced against its likely benefits. Complete separation of wildlife and farmed livestock may not be either practical or cost effective, but farmers should consider what measures they can take to reduce the interaction of wildlife with their animals.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidelines her Department (a) issues and (b) plans to issue to secure full biosecurity of grazing pastures in order to ensure complete separation of cattle and badgers.

Ben Bradshaw: Complete biosecurity is seldom possible where wildlife is concerned, but farmers are advised to minimise contact between their cattle and wildlife. Currently advice is issued to farmers in the form of the booklet "TB in cattle: reducing the risk." Advice to individual farms that suffer a TB breakdown will normally be offered by a Veterinary Officer of the State Veterinary Service.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidelines her Department issues on when it is appropriate to carry out a survey to establish the adequacy of biosecurity measures on a working farm.

Ben Bradshaw: There are no specific Departmental guidelines setting out advice on the conduct of surveys to establish the adequacy of biosecurity measures on a working farm.
	The Department has published advice on biosecurity—Better Biosecurity Provides Peace of Mind, Healthy Stock and a More Viable Business, and through the Codes of Recommendations for the Welfare of Livestock for specific species, which while primarily concerned with welfare, also provide guidance on biosecurity issues. These Codes support the statutory requirements under the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2000, that animals shall be cared for by a sufficient number of staff who possess the appropriate ability, knowledge and professional competence. The Codes give clear recommendations on biosecurity measures and the need for written health and welfare plans, prepared with the farmer's veterinary surgeon and, where necessary, other technical advisers. Farm assurance schemes may require evidence of such health and welfare plans when auditing farms.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the effects on badger population levels should the farming community succeed in securing complete biosecurity of their farms and crops and excluding badgers from these areas.

Ben Bradshaw: While no formal assessments have been made, research currently under way at the Central Science Laboratory suggests that badgers exploit growing crops (mainly cereals) close to or at maturity, especially during extended dry periods. Also, they may feed on poorly-stored farm feeds at all times of the year, but particularly during extended dry periods. These represent times when the badgers' natural food sources are of very limited availability and when badger mortality may otherwise be higher.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the change in incidence of bovine TB in cattle is when compared against a baseline of incidence in 1999.

Ben Bradshaw: The incidence of TB in cattle herds in Great Britain in 1999, measured as the percentage of tests on unrestricted herds resulting in a confirmed breakdown, was 2.3 per cent. In 2003, the (provisional) incidence was 3.5 per cent. In absolute terms, this represents an increase in herd incidence for Great Britain of 1.2 percentage points.
	Source:
	National Statistics

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what studies her Department has undertaken of the extent to which the level of bovine TB in cattle reported on the Somerset levels is attributable to the population density of badgers in the same area.

Ben Bradshaw: There are no data on the relationship between badger population density and the incidence of TB in cattle, nor are there any published data on the density of badger populations at a county scale. The National Badger Survey reports on estimated badger numbers at a regional level (eg the south-west). Although there are certainly areas of Somerset that are not ideal badger country, it is not possible to categorically state that badger density in Somerset is significantly lower than elsewhere in the south-west.
	Since 1997 until earlier this year, investigation of the prevalence of TB in wild badgers has been restricted to the Randomised Badger Culling Trial and the Road Traffic Accident survey of badgers found dead in seven counties (Somerset is not one of the counties selected for this survey). The trial will provide some information on badger numbers within the triplet areas, which could be related to cattle herd breakdown rates. However, badger density estimates may not be very reliable even in trial areas (they would be based on trapping returns and field survey information). This year, an additional limited survey of badgers found dead in Cumbria is being undertaken.
	Part of the recent consultation on Defra's proposed short term strategy incorporated surveillance of badgers found dead in emerging TB hotspots (the concept of an emerging hotspot is explained in Chapter 5.3 of the consultation document "Preparing for a new GB strategy on bovine tuberculosis" which was published in February 2004).

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to receive results from the Irish trials into Bovine TB.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra officials are in regular contact with officials from the Republic of Ireland, and they have undertaken to inform me as soon as a publication date is known.

Bovine TB

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of deer as a potential source of infection for bovine TB.

Ben Bradshaw: A recently published report by the Central Science Laboratory funded by Defra confirmed the presence of Mycobacterium bovis (the causative organism for bovine tuberculosis) in a number of wildlife species. Bovine TB was found in five out of the six deer species in Great Britain, including, for the first time, muntjac deer.
	The report adds to the body of evidence on TB in wildlife, but it is not clear what level of risk deer pose as a potential source of bovine TB infection in cattle. Defra is currently considering what future research is required in this area.

BSE

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which countries have identified cases of BSE.

Ben Bradshaw: In addition to the United Kingdom, the following countries have identified cases of BSE:
	Austria
	Belgium
	Canada
	Czech Republic
	Denmark
	Finland
	France
	Germany
	Greece
	Ireland
	Israel
	Italy
	Japan
	Liechtenstein
	Luxembourg
	Netherlands
	Poland
	Portugal
	Slovakia
	Slovenia
	Spain
	Switzerland
	USA.

Cage and Aviary Birds

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 5 July 2004, Official Report, column 437W, on cage and aviary birds, what measures her Department takes to ensure that the Pet Animals Act 1951 is enforced at exhibitions of cage and aviary birds where sales take place; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Local authorities are responsible for enforcing the Pet Animals Act 1951 and how it should be applied to events where the selling of cage and aviary birds takes place.

Captive Birds and Animals

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to propose legislation to ban the sale of captive birds and animals at fairs and exhibitions; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government have no plans to introduce legislation to specifically prohibit the selling of animals at fairs and exhibitions.

CITES Permits

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many permits for the (a) export and (b) re-export of species listed in Appendix II to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) have been (i) approved and issued by UK authorities and (ii) received by UK authorities from other CITES member states since January 2001.

Elliot Morley: The number of CITES permits for Appendix II listed species issued by UK the Management Authority since January 2001 were as
	follows:
	17,418 exports;
	76,74 re-exports.
	The Management Authority does not record the number of export permits issued by other CITES member states for Appendix II specimens imported into the UK. However, the number of Appendix II import permits issued by the UK Management Authority for the period in question was 30489.

CITES Permits

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many permits for the (a) export and (b) import of species listed in Appendix I to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) have been (i) approved and issued by UK authorities and (ii) received by UK authorities from other CITES member states since January 2001.

Elliot Morley: The number of CITES permits for Appendix I listed species issued by the UK Management Authority since January 2001 were as follows:
	4,126 imports;
	1,930 exports;
	11,897 re-exports.
	There is a corresponding permit issued by the exporting country for each Appendix I specimen imported into the UK.

Climate Change

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the UK Climate Change Programme targets.

Elliot Morley: The UK remains on course to achieve its Kyoto target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2008–12. Provisional estimates suggest that greenhouse gas emissions in 2003 were about 14 per cent. below the baseline.
	The Government has a separate goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010. Emissions of carbon dioxide for 2003 are provisionally estimated at about seven per cent. lower than in 1990.

Commercial Sea Fishing

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the financial contribution to the economy of commercial sea fishing.

Ben Bradshaw: The recent report by the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit, "Net Benefits: A sustainable and profitable future for UK fishing", estimates the UK catching industry lands over £540 million in catches each year, resulting in between £800 and £1,200 million of directly related economic activity in the UK. This estimate does not include indirect expenditure arising from commercial sea fishing.

Committee Examining Radiation Risks of Internal Emitters

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her attention was brought to recent e-mailed communications by individual members of the Committee Examining Radiation Risks of Internal Emitters critical of the work of the Committee prior to the completion of the Committee's work; and if she will examine the actions of these Committee members in respect of their compatibility with the commitments entered into as conditions of membership of the Committee.

Elliot Morley: I have been made aware of the recent e-mailed communication by individual members of the Committee Examining Radiation Risks of Internal Emitters (CERRIE), although this was not sent directly to the Department. CERRIE held its last formal meeting on 24 June, and its report is currently being finalised by the Committee members, who anticipate that it will be ready for publication in the autumn. It is regrettable that members of the Committee have chosen to pre-empt publication by issuing a statement critical of the report and of other members of the Committee. We will welcome an informed debate on the scientific issues in the CERRIE report, once it is published. In the meantime, I have asked officials to consider with the Committee Chairman whether there are any lessons to be learned from the experiences with the CERRIE Committee that should be taken into account in the future.

Departmental Costs

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost of printing departmental headed notepaper was in (a) 1996–97 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available.

Alun Michael: Defra came into being in June 2001. As part of the Department's information and communications strategy electronic templates were made available on desktop PCs enabling staff to generate letterheads from local laser printers, replacing the need for overprinting pre-printed stationery. There are occasional requirements for specialist headed paper which in the financial year 2003–04 totalled £4,297 in value.

Departmental Costs

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost of running her Department's canteen facilities was in (a) 1996–97 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available.

Alun Michael: Defra came into being in June 2001. From information held centrally, the cost of running the Department's canteen facilities in financial year 2001–02 was £398,058 and in financial year 2003–04 the cost was £443,025.

Departmental Staff (Upper Age Limits)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether (a) her Department and (b) agencies for which it is responsible (i) have a set retirement age which applies to all or most personnel and (ii) have a maximum age beyond which applications for employment will not be considered; and what the age is in each case.

Alun Michael: The normal age at which staff may retire with immediate payment of pension is 60. However, subject to continued organisational need and to their continued efficiency, staff other than those in the senior civil service may elect to stay beyond age 60 subject to a maximum retirement age of 65.
	Applications for employment, again for all grades other than the senior civil service, are accepted from those over the age of 60, subject to the maximum retirement age of 65. In real terms this normally means that age 63 or 64 is the maximum age at which staff are recruited. It would be uneconomic, in terms of payback on recruitment and training costs, to recruit closer to the age at which they would be required to retire.
	All of the agencies also follow these rules with the exception of the Rural Payments Agency which has undertaken to apply them at the end of its change programme, scheduled for completion by the end of 2004.
	Currently the normal age maximum for the senior civil service, as set by the Cabinet Office, is 60.

Departmental Vehicles

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many road vehicles are operated by the Department and its agencies; how many personal injury accidents involving road vehicles operated by the Department have occurred within each of the last five years; and what the Department's policy is for managing work-related road safety.

Alun Michael: Details relating to vehicles provided to Ministers by the Government Car Dispatch Agency will be covered by the Minister for the Cabinet Office. A separate response will be provided by Cabinet Office.
	Defra and its agencies currently have some 611 road vehicles including cars, 4x4s, vans and lorries.
	The number of personal injury accidents, reported officially via accident reporting arrangements, involving road vehicles operated by the department, (including all Agencies) occurring within each of the last five years is as follow:
	1999—18
	2000—10
	2001—23
	2002—15
	2003—19
	It should be noted that these figures relate to all road traffic accidents on official business, whether in fleet, hire or private vehicles. Fleet data on its own can only be extracted manually and would thereby incur disproportionate costs.
	The core department has a policy to assist with the management of work-related road safety and encouragement of safe driving. The policy is based on risk and consists of a generic risk assessment and guidance documentation. Defra Agencies have equivalent policies in compliance with the Defra Safety Policy.

Ducks (Factory Farming)

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the welfare of factory farmed ducks with reference to (a) access to water other than drinking water and (b) the practice of de-beaking.

Ben Bradshaw: In determining the welfare requirements of farmed ducks for water, other than drinking water, a balance needs to be struck between the behavioural needs of the birds and the risks to health, hygiene, and food safety if they are given unlimited access to open water.
	Defra is shortly to fund a research project which will assess the extent to which different commercial systems currently in use in this country fulfil the welfare needs of farmed ducks. Part of the study aims to quantify a duck's motivation to gain access to water.
	Our existing Code of Recommendations for the Welfare of Ducks and our consultation document on a new code, propose that the practice of de-beaking or bill trimming should be avoided and only used if veterinary advice is that the procedure is essential to prevent worse welfare problems, such as the birds injuring each other.

Ducks (Factory Farming)

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government has to improve the welfare standards of factory farmed ducks.

Ben Bradshaw: The welfare of ducks is protected by The Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968, which makes it an offence to cause unnecessary pain or unnecessary distress. More detailed standards are laid down in The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 1870). These Regulations include specific requirements on inspections, record keeping, freedom of movement, buildings and equipment and feed and water.
	There is also a specific Code of Recommendations for the Welfare of Ducks. Flock-keepers are required by law to have access to, and be familiar with this code, which encourages all those who care for ducks to adopt the highest standards of husbandry.
	We are currently revising the duck welfare code and a three month public consultation ends on 10 September.

Eaton Farm

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will allow Mr. Andrew Morris of Eatons Farm, Tibberton, to sell calves under 42 days of age from that farm.

Ben Bradshaw: When a herd is under movement restrictions, movements of cattle from the premises (except direct to slaughter) will only be licensed where a pre-movement isolation unit has been agreed with the Divisional Veterinary Manager, and all the isolated cattle have tested clear twice at 60-day intervals from the date of isolation. Testing of the isolated calves must take place at the same time as the rest of the herd (that is, although the isolated calves can be treated as a separate epidemiological unit, the whole herd including the adult animals needs to be fully up-to-date with its testing before any movements will be permitted).

Electronic Tagging

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the progress of the trials for the electronic tagging of animals.

Ben Bradshaw: The Sheep EID/EDT Pilot Study is examining the practical application of electronic identification (EID) and electronic data transfer (EOT) in sheep. Commercial farms are taking part in the trial and we are examining both eartags and boluses and a range of EID equipment. We are also planning to include a small number of selected markets and abattoirs later in the trial.
	Study findings will be published on the Defra website www.defra.gov.uk. An interim report is due in September 2004 and the final report in June 2005.

Correspondence

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Thurrock sent in May about the UK National Allocation Plan for carbon and the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

Elliot Morley: I responded to my hon. Friend's letter on 22 July 2004.

Energy Efficiency

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much money was spent on grants to aid energy efficiency in (a) Merseyside, (b) Crosby and (c) the North West in each of the last three years.

Elliot Morley: Defra currently provides grant funding for energy efficiency through four main routes. These organisations or programmes undertake work at a national or UK level.
	The Warm Front programme—to provide energy efficiency measures to the vulnerable.
	The Community Energy programme—capital and development funding to refurbish existing and install new community heating schemes.
	The Carbon Trust—to support and promote energy efficiency and low carbon innovation for business and public sector.
	The Energy Saving Trust—to support and promote energy efficiency in the household sector.
	Warm Front
	Total costs of measures under the Warm Front scheme are as follows:
	
		
			  Merseyside (£ million)(48) Crosby (£000)(48) North West (£ million)(48) 
		
		
			 2001–02 13 315,000 18 
			 2002–03 14.5 450,000 8 
			 2003–04 12 530,000 9 
		
	
	Community Energy
	Community Energy figures as follows:
	2001–02: Programme not up and running until 02/03
	2002–03: No spend
	2003–04: £19,000
	These spend figures relate to development grant money to fund feasibility studies, business plans and bids for capital grants, and form part of £2 million set aside for developing bids within the £50 million pot. There were no capital grants awarded to schemes in the North West in either 2002–03 or 2003–04 as no bids were submitted of sufficient quality which met the programme's criteria. The programme's publicity has very much focused on regions that have had a poor take up of grant.
	Carbon Trust and Energy Saving Trust
	The Trusts' programmes have no specific levels of funding attributed to particular regions.
	Total Funding
	The total funding made available by the Department to support and promote efficiency measures for these programmes (The Carbon Trust, The Energy Saving Trust, Community Energy and Warm Front) in each of the last three years is set out as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2001–02 256 
			 2002–03 225 
			 2003–04 (48)243 
		
	
	(48) Budget

Environmental Business Growth Action Programme

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what funding her Department has provided for the Environmental Business Growth Action Programme in 2004–05;
	(2)  what the (a) objectives, (b) aims and (c) targeted outputs are of the Environmental Business Growth Action Programme; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The Environmental Business Growth Action Plan aims to help the West Midlands to develop its potential to be a leading region in the area of environmental technologies, products and services. Its primary focus is support for SMEs and for the expansion of growth sector industries in this field. The business plan estimates that the programme will help to modernise and diversify the region's economy by assisting 2,600 SMEs across the region, creating an estimated 700 new jobs and safeguarding a further 2,000 jobs.
	The plan provides funding for a range of initiatives supporting business growth in environmental technologies and improving environmental management practice in all businesses. It is operated by the Environment Agency, and draws on funding support from Advantage West Midlands and from European Structural Funds via Government Office West Midlands. It acts on behalf of a partnership comprising Advantage West Midlands, Government Office West Midlands, together with other regional organisations, with the Environment Agency acting as accountable body. Advantage West Midlands also participates in the management board of the plan together with other regional partner organisations.

EU Bycatch Regulation

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to ensure that the UK Bycatch Response Strategy takes steps to protect harbour porpoises in coastal waters where vessels under 12 metres operate.

Ben Bradshaw: Agreement was reached at the March Agriculture and Fisheries Council on Community legislation to address this issue. The legislation makes the use of acoustic deterrent devices ("pingers") mandatory for vessels of 12 metres and over involved in specified fixed gear fisheries in the Celtic Sea, Channel and North Sea. Alongside this, on 22 July I announced my intention to request the European Commission to close the pair trawl fishery for bass for the forthcoming season, using the provisions for emergency measures under Article 7 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 2371/2002 in the light of research results showing significant dolphin bycatch in this fishery. We are considering whether further measures are required to protect porpoises and other cetaceans in the context of the implementation of the UK Small Cetacean Bycatch Response Strategy.

External Costs (Agriculture)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the external costs associated with agricultural activities, with particular reference to the environmental costs.

Alun Michael: Defra and the devolved administrations commissioned a project to develop a framework for valuing the external costs associated with the positive and negative impacts of agriculture on the environment. Eftec, who carried out the research, are in the process of finalising their report on the "Framework for Environmental Accounts for Agriculture", which will be published on the Defra website soon.
	I will write to the right hon. Member for Lewes to inform him when the report is published.

Fallen Stock

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate she has made of the costs which might be incurred by (a) intensive livestock farmers and (b) extensive livestock farmers in the collection of fallen stock in the event of a ban on hunting.

Alun Michael: No estimate has been made with regard to the impact on intensive livestock farmers. However, the effect of a ban on hunting is likely to be small as hunt kennels generally do not collect fallen stock from intensive pig and poultry farms.
	In relation to extensive livestock farmers, I refer the hon. Member to the estimate of extra costs given in the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into Hunting with Dogs in England and Wales, the Burns Report, dated June 2000.

Fallen Stock

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what security standards are expected from operators and receivers of fallen stock; what checks are made on such operators; how many prosecutions there have been since the beginning of the scheme; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The fallen stock scheme is due to start in the autumn. A set of detailed terms and conditions, including strict bio security conditions, will apply to all those wishing to collect fallen stock under the scheme. Operators' premises are already subject to approval and inspection by the State Veterinary Service under the Animal By-Products Regulations, but for those premises which join the scheme additional checks on compliance with scheme rules will also apply. The scheme has no legislative basis so the question of prosecutions does not arise. However, operators found not to be in compliance with scheme rules will be subject to exclusion from the scheme.

Farm Animal Exports

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farm animals, by species, were exported from the UK for each year, from 1994 to date; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The following table shows UK exports of farm animals by species 1994 to 2003. Cattle exports from the UK have been banned since 27 March 1996 under EU rules relating to BSE.
	
		UK Exports of live farm animals by species 1994 to 2003 -- Number of head
		
			  Type 
			  Poultry Ovines (sheep) Porcines (pig) Bovines (beef) Other live animals (horse) Caprines (goat) 
		
		
			 1994 28,656,876 1,803,684 204,961 480,857 4,196 128 
			 1995 26,240,265 1,668,931 248,909 450,158 5,506 161 
			 1996 23,831,384 1,545,111 218,724 67,358 5,289 287 
			 1997 19,730,084 1,186,126 362,647 — 6,565 375 
			 1998 23,428,527 1,382,607 250,420 — 5,875 402 
			 1999 25,240,783 1,811,842 175,504 — 6,169 483 
			 2000 34,945,573 1,362,344 159,372 — 6,439 448 
			 2001 33,375,306 380,729 31,314 — 5,913 2 
			 2002 51,194,199 370,573 32,914 — 4,798 2 
			 2003 32,114,728 344,949 40,220 — 7,904 350 
		
	
	Note:
	2003 data is provisional and subject to amendment
	Source:
	HM Customs and Excise/Defra
	Data prepared by Statistics (Commodities & Food), Branch C&D, ESD, DEFRA

Farm Animal Imports

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farm animals, by species, were imported live to the UK for each year from 1994 to date; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The following table shows UK imports of farm animals by species 1994 to 2003.
	
		UK Exports of live farm animals by species 1994 to 2003 -- Number of head
		
			  Type 
			  Poultry Porcines (pig) Ovines (sheep Bovines (beef) Other live animals (horse) Caprines (goat) 
		
		
			 1994 6,002,194 72,909 152,433 26,126 2,474 7 
			 1995 7,450,440 120,939 112,637 16,808 2,474 8 
			 1996 4,748,591 457,332 102,414 6,452 2,649 — 
			 1997 6,017,532 185,243 109,391 10,064 5,288 — 
			 1998 6,157,693 198,418 96,785 3,430 3,446 — 
			 1999 9,134,640 180,251 127,697 3,036 3,124 13 
			 2000 7,681,502 267,511 169,999 6,242 6,579 — 
			 2001 11,005,083 63,895 24,292 34,157 3,581 — 
			 2002 5,002,415 231,427 21,743 23,128 3,828 — 
			 2003 6,333,253 330,810 34,593 11,221 4,118 41 
		
	
	Note:
	2003 data is provisional and subject to amendment
	Source:
	HM Customs and Excise/Defra
	Data prepared by Statistics (Commodities and Food), Branch C and D, ESD, Defra

Farming

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she last visited an agricultural show; and what plans she has to visit a show.

Margaret Beckett: The last Agriculture Show I visited was on 5 July. I have no further visits to Agriculture Shows planned in my diary this year.

Fly-tipping

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what volume of waste she estimates was illegally fly-tipped in the most recent year for which figures are available, broken down by (a) the nature of the waste and (b) whether it was fly-tipped in urban or rural areas.

Elliot Morley: Both the Environment Agency and local authorities have responsibilities for tackling fly-tipping. Prior to the launch of the Flycapture database on 5 April 2004, there was no national system for gathering and reporting data on fly-tipping dealt with by the Environment Agency and local authorities. However, the Agency did have its own incident reporting system that did record summary data on fly-tipping incidents dealt with by the Agency.
	The most recent year for which complete data is currently available is 2002. Data for 2003 will be released on the 27 July 2004 with the Agency's Spotlight report.
	During 2002, the Agency dealt with 4,997 fly-tipping incidents. Of these, 1,392 incidents involved Construction, Demolition or Excavation wastes (including asbestos), 891 involved Household waste, 432 involved Tyres and 197 involved Fuels/oils.
	No data are available on the volume of wastes fly-tipped during 2002 and the Agency does not currently collect data on the urban/rural split.
	In future years, the Flycapture database will be able to provide more comprehensive data on the nature and scale of the problem dealt with by both local authorities and the Agency.

Foot and Mouth

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what actions on the part of the UK authorities were (a) required and (b) recommended by the European Union with regard to the September 2000 foot and mouth disease outbreak in KwaZulu-Natal; and when these were implemented;
	(2)  what actions the UK authorities took in regard to the November 2000 foot and mouth disease outbreak in Mpumalanga that were not taken in regard to the September 2000 outbreak in KwaZulu-Natal.

Margaret Beckett: If there is an outbreak of disease likely to present a risk to human or animal health, European Community legislation allows us to take appropriate safeguard action, which may include a ban on imports of meat from all, or parts, of that country. At the time of the outbreak in KwaZulu-Natal, it was not deemed necessary to take safeguard action since the South African authorities had prohibited the issue of export certificates for fresh meat from the area in which the outbreak had occurred. This meant that exports from South Africa could not take place.
	On 7–8 November 2000 the European Commission informed the Standing Veterinary Committee (SVC) (now known as the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health) of the outcome of an inspection and indicated that safeguard measures may be necessary. On 25 November the Commission published legislation prohibiting imports into the Community of fresh meat from 16 districts in the province of KwaZulu-Natal.
	On 5 January the Government issued a Declaration under Regulation 35 of the Products of Animal Origin (Import and Export) Regulations 1996, prohibiting imports into England and Wales of meat from all of South Africa. Similar action was taken in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
	The outbreak in Mpumalanga was confirmed on 30 November. The Commission took action in February 2001 to extend EU restrictions on imports of meat in respect of Mpumalanga. By that time, the UK had already banned imports of meat from the whole country, so no further action was necessary.

Greyhounds

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to propose that a new code to protect racing greyhounds will have statutory backing.

Ben Bradshaw: Under the Animal Welfare Bill we are considering the possibility of introducing secondary legislation to cover racing greyhounds. A decision on the content of any regulations will be made in light of the outcome of work currently being done within the industry to raise welfare standards.

Hazardous Waste

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what Environment Agency (a) procedures and (b) resources will be used to ensure that all hazardous waste producers, including those producing small and sporadic quantities of hazardous waste are (i) made aware of and (ii) comply with the requirement to register as a hazardous waste producer.

Elliot Morley: We expect to go out to consultation on the new hazardous waste regulations, including the proposed requirement for hazardous waste producers to notify their premises to their Environment Agency, later this month. The Environment Agency will consider during the consultation period both how to make producers aware of their obligations and how to ensure compliance.

Hazardous Waste

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 July 2004, Official Report, column 1258W, on hazardous waste, when she expects the landfill sites which have applied for a licence to accept hazardous waste to be judged as fit for that purpose and have their licences granted.

Elliot Morley: Tables 1, 2 and 3 as follows show sites whose operators have applied for permits to be merchant dedicated hazardous waste landfill sites (which would receive hazardous waste on a commercial basis) or in-house dedicated hazardous waste landfill sites (which are used to dispose of waste from their own operations such as factory process waste).
	These tables are drawn from information used to provide that published on the Environment Agency website (www.environment-agency.gov.uk). Also included is information about when the application is likely to be determined, where this is known. For some sites, the determination date is not yet known.
	Please note that the tables also include some sites whose applications have been refused.
	
		Table 1: Sites whose operators have applied for permits to be merchant landfills for hazardous waste
		
			  Site name  Operator  Location  EA region Range of hazardous wastes  applied for Proposed Input (000 Te/Yr)  Permitting progress 
		
		
			 1. Purton Brickworks Hills Minerals and Waste Ltd. Swindon, Wilts. Thames Range includes contaminated soils, filter cakes, packaging 59 Permit issued 
			 2. Port Clarence Zero waste Teesside,  N. Yorks North East Wide range 100 Permit issued 
			 3. Southwood Landfill Southwood Waste Mgt. Shepton Mallett, Somerset South West Asbestos only. Quantity is same as current WML 22 Permit issued 
			 4. Pinden Quarry Pinden Plant Dartford, Kent Southern Asbestos only. Quantity is same as current WML 26 Permit issued 
			 5. Slipe Clay cliffe, King's Cliffe Atlantic Waste Services King's Cliffe Anglian Wide range of wastes 249 Permit issued—but site not operational 
			 6. Eardswick Hall Brock plc Crewe, Cheshire North West Contaminated soils 75 Permit likely to be determined by end August 2004 
			 7. Whitemoss J. Routledge and Sons Skelmersdale, Lancs. North West Range of hazardous waste although mainly contaminated soils 150 Permit likely to be determined by end August 2004 
			 8. ICI no. 3 Impetus Waste Mgt. Teesside,  N. Yorks North East Wide Range of hazardous wastes 25 Permit likely to be determined by end July 2004 
			 9. Randle Landfill Ineos Chlor. Ltd. Runcorn, Cheshire North West Treated hazardous wastes arising from the chemical manufacturing process 150 Permit likely to be determined by end August 2004 
			 10. Winterton South Integrated Waste Mgt. Ltd. Winterton, North Lincs. Anglian Wide range 250 Permit issued 
			 11. Meece 2 Biffa Stone, Staffs. Midlands Limited range of "Chapter 19" Hazardous wastes: 19 01 05, 19 01 07, 19 01 10, 19 01 13, 19 01 15 50 Permit likely to be determined by end October 2004 
			 12. Warboys Fenside Waste Mgt. Huntingdon, Cambs. Anglian Wide range but slightly narrower range and lower quantities than existing WML allows 100 Pending—planning refused so unable to progress 
			 13. Wingmoor Farm Grundon Cheltenham, Glos. Midlands Wide range 120 haz. and 30 inert cover Permit likely to be determined by end July 2004 
			 14. Thornhill Quarry Demex Ltd. Dewsbury,  West Yorkshire North East Asbestos fibres only 5,000 per year (total 120,000) Application refused 
			 15. VHE Construction VHE Construction Rotherham,  S. Yorkshire North East Hazardous but mainly contaminated soil no asbestos Only 50,000T remaining then full Application refused 
			 16. Rushton CSG Ltd. Kettering Northants. Anglian Full range of haz. 15 Application refused 
		
	
	
		Table 2: New sites whose operators have appled for permits to be merchant landfills for hazardous waste
		
			  Site name  Operator  Location  EA region  Range of hazardous wastes Proposed input (000 Te/Yr)  Permitting progress 
		
		
			 17. Winsford Rock Salt Mine Minosus Winsford, Cheshire North West Range of inorganic, non-flammable waste currently in negotiation with agency over detail of waste types 100 Dependent on resolution of planning issues and range of waste to be accepted 
			 18. Lillyhall Phase 4 Alco Waste Management Distington, Cumbria North West Wide range 35 per year plus 15 inert for cover Pending—application received recently 
		
	
	
		Table 3: Sites whose operators have applied for permits to be in-house landfills for hazardous waste
		
			  Site name  Operator  Location  EA region  Range of wastes Proposed input (000 Te/Yr)  Permitting progress 
		
		
			 1. Grange Top Quarry Castle Cement Ketton, nr. Stamford Anglian Haz. (CKD) only 5 Permit issued 
			 2. Royal Ordnance Landfill BAE Systems Chorley, Lancs. North West Contaminated land and other hazardous waste including asbestos 10 Permit issued 
			 3. Bradley Park Landfill Syngenta Huddersfield, West Yorkshire North East Wide range of wastes 350 Refused 
			 4. Southam Rugby Cement Southam, Warks. Midlands CKD and on site road sweepings 24.9 Determination pending 
			 5. Alcan Pot Linings Alcan Aluminium Newbiggin, Northumberland North East Spent pot linings 14.4 Determination pending 
			 6. Coplow Quarry Castle Cement Clitheroe, Lancashire North West CKD 20 Determination pending 
			 7. National security request National security request National security request National security request Unable to respond due to unresolved claim for national security — Unknown—outstanding national security request 
			 8. National security request National security request National security request National security request Unable to respond due to unresolved claim for national security — Unknown—outstanding national security request 
			 9. Morfa Corus South Wales Wales Wide range 100 Permit likely to be determined by end August 2004 
			 10. Tripcock Point Tilfen Land Ltd. Thamesmead, London Thames Mainly contaminated soils 100 Pending—Tranche 3 app. received recently 
			 11. Minworth Landfill Severn Trent Water Minworth, Sutton Coldfield Midlands Incinerator ash from incineration of digested sewage sludge 27 Permit likely to be determined by end September 2004 
			 12. Rugby Works Rugby Cement Rugby, Warks. Midlands CKD and on site road sweepings and soils from excavation on site 24.9 Permit refused

Hazardous Waste

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 21 June 2004, Official Report, columns 1188–89W, on hazardous waste, what the annual capacity in tonnes of hazardous waste is of each site listed in Tables 2 and 3.

Elliot Morley: The annual capacity in tonnes of hazardous waste of each site in the tables referred to is set out in the following tables, and are correct as of 22 July. It is important to note that the figures show capacity applied for in each individual PPC permit and not necessarily capacity available when and if permits are issued.
	
		Table 1: Sites whose operators have applied for permits to be Merchant Landfills for Hazardous Waste
		
			  Site name  Operator  Location  EA region Range of hazardous wastes applied for Proposed input (000Te/Yr)  Permitting progress 
		
		
			 1. Purton Brickworks Hills Minerals and Waste Ltd. Swindon, Wilts Thames Range includes contaminated soils, filter cakes, packaging 59 Permit Issued 
			 2. Port Clarence Zero Waste Teeside, N.Yorks North East Wide Range 100 Permit Issued 
			 3. Southwood Landfill Southwood Waste Mgt. Shepton Mallett, Somerset South West Asbestos only. Quantity is same as current WML 22 Permit Issued 
			 4. Pinden Quarry Pinden Plant Dartford, Kent Southern Asbestos only. Quantity is same as current WML 26 Permit Issued 
			 5. Slipe Clay Cliffe, King's Cliffe Atlantic Waste Services King's Cliffe Anglian Wide range of wastes 249 Permit Issued—but site not operational 
			 6. Eardswick Hall Brock Plc Crewe, Cheshire North West Contaminated soils 75 Permit likely to be determined by end August 2004 
			 7. Whitemoss J. Routledge and Sons Skelmersdale, Lanes. North West Range of haz waste although mainly contaminated soils 150 Permit likely to be determined by end August 2004 
			 8. ICI no. 3 Impetus Waste Mgt. Teeside, N.Yorks North East Wide Range of haz wastes 25 Permit likely to be determined by end July 2004 
			 9. Randle Landfill Ineos Chlor Ltd. Runcorn, Cheshire North West Treated haz wastes arising from the chemical manufacturing process 150 Permit likely to be determined by end August 2004 
			 10. Winterton South Integrated Waste Mgt Ltd. Winterton, North Lines. Anglian Wide Range 250 Permit Issued 
			 11. Meece 2 Biffa Stone, Staffs. Midlands Limited range of 'Chapter 19' Haz wastes: 19 01 05*. 19 01 07*, 19 01 10*. 19 01 13*, 19 01 15* 50 Permit likely to be determined by end October 2004 
			 12. Warboys Fenside Waste Mgt. Huntingdon, Cambs. Anglian Wide range but slightly narrower range and lower quantities than existing WML allows 100 Pending—planning refused so unable to progress 
			 13. Wingmoor Farm Grundon Cheltenham, Glos. Midlands Wide range 120 haz and 30 inert cover Permit likely to be determined by end July 2004 
			 14. Thornhill Quarry Demex Ltd. Dewsbury,  West Yorkshire North East Asbestos fibres only 5,000 per year (total 120,000) Application refused 
			 15. VHE Construction VHE Construction Rotherham,  S. Yorkshire North East Hazardous but mainly Contaminated soil no asbestos only 50,000T remaining then full Application refused 
			 16. Rushton CSG Ltd. Kettering Northants Anglian Full range of haz 15 Application refused 
		
	
	
		Table 2: New sites whose operators have applied for permits to be Merchant Landfills for Hazardous Waste
		
			  Site name  Operator  Location  EA region  Range of hazardous wastes Proposed input (000 Te/Yr)  Permitting progress 
		
		
			 17. Winsford Rock Salt Mine Minosus Winsford, Cheshire North West Range of inorganic, non-flammable waste currently in negotiation with Agency over detail of waste types 100 Dependent on resolution of planning issues and range of waste to be accepted 
			 18. Lillyhall Phase 4 Alco Waste Management Distington, Cumbria North West Wide range 35 per year plus 15 inert for  cover Pending—application received recently 
		
	
	
		Table 3: Sites whose operators have applied for permits to be In-house Landfills for Hazardous Waste
		
			  Site Name  Operator  Location  EA Region  Range of Wastes Proposed Input (000 Te/Yr)  Permitting Progress 
		
		
			 1. Grange Top Quarry Castle Cement Ketton, Nr Stamford Anglian Haz (CKD) only 5 Permit issued 
			 2. Royal Ordnance Landfill BAE Systems Chorley, Lanes North West Contaminated land and other haz waste including asbestos 10 Permit issued 
			 3. Bradley Park Landfill Syngenta Huddersfield, West Yorkshire North East Wide range of wastes 350 Refused 
			 4. Southam Rugby Cement Southam, Warks Midlands CKD and on site roadsweepings 24.9 Determination pending 
			 5. Alcan Pot Linings Alcan Aluminium Slewbiggin, Northumberland North East Spent pot linings 14.4 Determination pending 
			 6. Coplow Quarry Castle Cement Clitheroe, Lancashire North West CKD 20 Determination pending 
			 7. National security request National security request National security request National security request Unable to respond due to unresolved claim for national security — Unknown—outstanding national security request. 
			 8. National Security request National security request National security request National security request Unable to respond due to unresolved claim for national security — Unknown—outstanding national security request. 
			 9. Morfa Corus South Wales Wales Wide range 100 Permit likely to be determined by 20 04 
			 10. Tripcock Point Tilfen Land Ltd. Thamesmead, London Thames Mainly cont soils 100 Pending—Tranche 3 app received recently 
			 11. Minworth Landfill Severn Trent Water Minworth, Sutton Coldfield Midlands Incinerator ash from incineration of digested sewage sludge 27 Permit likely to be determined by end September 2004 
			 12. Rugby Works Rugby Cement Rugby, Warks Midlands CKD and on site roadsweepings and soils from excavation on site 24.9 Permit refused

Hazardous Waste

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the new hazardous waste regulations will make it an offence for householders to dispose of (a) fluorescent light tubes and (b) used batteries in domestic refuse.

Elliot Morley: It is not proposed that the Hazardous Waste Regulations, to be implemented in 2005, should make it an offence for householders to dispose of such items in the municipal waste stream. Mixed domestic waste containing small amounts of hazardous wastes such as fluorescent tubes and used batteries will continue to be dealt with as non-hazardous municipal waste.

Hazardous Waste

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether (a) used disposable nappies, (b) used continence pads and (c) cat litter and other animal wastes are classified as hazardous waste; what guidance her Department has issued to waste collection authorities on this matter; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: For a waste to be classified as "hazardous", it must normally be listed as such in the European Waste Catalogue. Nappies, incontinence pads and cat litter are not listed as hazardous. It is open to Member States to determine that other wastes are hazardous where these display one or more of the hazardous properties specified in the Hazardous Waste Directive at above the thresholds the Directive specifies. Waste such as used disposable nappies and incontinence pads would be considered under property H9 (infectious). However, to be considered hazardous there would need to be a high risk that infectious substances were present in the waste at a concentration above that naturally encountered. Since the source population for household waste is healthy, the risk of infection is very low and nappies and incontinence pads do not therefore meet the criteria necessary for a "hazardous" classification. Where an individual is being treated by a health professional in their own home, it is for the health professional to make a clinical decision on whether or not the nature of the patient's illness would render the patient's hygiene waste infectious.
	Small amounts of animal waste arising in households, such as cat litter, can be placed in the bin, if suitably wrapped, and dealt with as municipal household waste.
	Defra is working with stakeholders to issue guidance for local authorities on dealing with hazardous household waste which will be issued prior to new hazardous waste regulations coming into force in July 2005.

Hazardous Waste

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate her Department has made of the amount of hazardous waste that will be stock-piled per month in the six month period following 16 July owing to the short-term shortfall of disposal capacity.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 12 July 2004
	No such estimate has been made. Our aim is to ensure as smooth a transition as possible of the implementation of the Landfill Directive and to avoid the need for storage of hazardous waste over and above that which normally occurs at the site of production or at waste transfer stations.
	Alternatives to disposal via landfill, such as high temperature incineration and use as a fuel, remain unchanged. There are also a number of alternatives to disposal such as minimisation, recycling and treatment to render the waste non-hazardous.

Hazardous Waste

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to increase the (a) re-use and (b) recycling of hazardous waste.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 12 July 2004
	In the main hazardous waste originates from the business sector and it is generally in their economic interest to reduce, reuse and recycle their hazardous waste.
	However, Defra has taken some specific steps to assist business increase
	the re-use and recycling of hazardous waste. These include support for:
	Envirowise, which supports small to medium sized businesses in the management of their waste, provide free consultations, waste audits, and sector specific guidance.
	Waste Implementation Programme (WIP) which is looking at how research and development technologies could assist the recycling and recovery of waste, including hazardous waste.
	Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP) which is developing markets for recycled materials and products across the board.
	In addition, implementation of the Landfill Directive and rises in landfill tax will encourage business to look further at their management of hazardous waste.

Hazardous Waste

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what she expects her Department to publish the criteria for the treatment of toxic waste.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 12 July 2004
	The criteria for stabilised non-reactive granular hazardous waste and for granular hazardous waste and are set out in Part 3, Paragraphs 14 and 17 of Schedule 1 of the Landfill (England and Wales) Regulations 2002 as amended by the Landfill (England and Wales)(Amendment) Regulations 2004. Equivalent criteria for monolithic wastes are being developed and will shortly be issued for consultation.

Incineration

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what studies the Department has commissioned into the (a) health and (b) environmental effects of incineration; and how much each study cost.

Elliot Morley: Defra commissioned the independent 'Review of Environmental and Health Effects of Waste Management: Municipal Solid Waste and Similar Wastes', which was published on 6 May. The review, which was carried out by Enviros consulting, and peer reviewed by The Royal Society brings together the available evidence of the health and environmental effects of the main different kinds of waste management facility, including incineration.
	Defra estimates that the final cost of the report will be in the region of £175,000 (excluding VAT).

Landfill

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received on the EU Landfill Directive; and if she will make a statement on progress in its implementation.

Elliot Morley: In the course of six consultation exercises and the many formal and informal meetings with stakeholders, the Government has received a large number of representations on all aspects of the Landfill Directive. The Landfill (England and Wales) Regulations 2002, as amended by the Landfill (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2004, implement the technical and regulatory aspects of the Directive in England and Wales.

Landfill

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many landfill sites have applied for permits under the provisions of the Directive; when they will be in a position to accept and process the waste; and what the length of time is for (a) permits to be granted and (b) planning permission to be given.

Elliot Morley: For hazardous waste, the Environment Agency has received 18 applications for permits to operate merchant landfills post July 2004, and a further applications to operate in-house landfills. Of these 30 applications, permits have been issued for seven sites, five applications have been refused, two have planning issues to resolve and the remainder are under consideration. The aim has been to complete the consideration process for as many sites as possible before 16 July. However where that date is not met, sites with a current waste management licence to accept hazardous waste can continue to accept only that waste after 16 July.
	In addition to the above, the Environment Agency has received 39 applications to operate separate cells for stable, non-reactive hazardous waste at non-hazardous waste landfills; six permits have been issued, two applications have been refused and the remainder are under consideration.
	Further details on all these applications is available on the Environment Agency website (www.environment-agency.gov.uk).

Landfill

Richard Page: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the detail of the change to the Landfill Regulation 2002 regarding the management of landfill sites was published; and how many days this was before implementation.

Elliot Morley: The Landfill (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2004 came into force on 15 June 2004. These amend the Landfill (England and Wales) Regulations 2002 in order to implement Council Decision 2003/33/EC on criteria and procedures for accepting waste at landfill. This met the deadline of 16 July 2004 set out by the Council Decision for the requirements to be transposed. A formal consultation on the Amendment Regulations was held from September to December 2003.
	The Amendment Regulations were published on 18 June 2004, some 392 days before the Waste Acceptance Criteria come into force on 16 July 2005.
	The co-disposal of hazardous wastes with non-hazardous wastes in the same landfill (with some specified exceptions) will be banned from 16 July 2004. This ban is a requirement of the 1999 Landfill Directive. Implementing the Directive was the subject of two formal consultations by Defra, in October 2000 and August 2001. The co-disposal ban was a provision in the Landfill (England and Wales) Regulations 2002. These Regulations came into force and were published on 15 June 2002, some 731 days before the implementation of the ban.

Landfill

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the outcome was of the negotiations between her Department, the Environment Agency and the non-ferrous metal industry over the impact that the Landfill Directive and Landfill Regulations 2004 will have on the industry; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The aim of the Landfill Directive is to provide for measures, procedures and guidance to prevent or reduce as far as possible, negative effects on the environment, including on groundwater pollution and global warming, as well as any resulting risk to human health, from landfilling waste. The Government are totally committed to this aim, as well as believing that landfilling waste is a lost opportunity to obtain economic value from discarded materials. While there is no doubt that one consequence of the Landfill Directive is to increase costs, it is true to say that in the past, the cost of landfill has not reflected its adverse environmental impact. In the many meetings with the non-ferrous metal industry, the Government have been encouraging it to reduce as far as possible the waste output from its operations, look at alternative treatments to landfill, see how the industry can still dispose of waste to landfill when there is no alternative disposal option currently available and encourage it to come forward with research proposals to achieve those above aims that may be able to draw on landfill tax funding.

Landfill

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consultations took place between members of the non-ferrous metals industry and the Environment Agency concerning the requirements of the Landfill Directive Regulations 2004, with particular reference to waste categorised as H12; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The non-ferrous metals industry is in regular contact with the Environment Agency via its trade association, the Non-Ferrous Alliance (NFA). Both organisations are also members of the Hazardous Waste Forum.
	The agency has discussed the requirements of the Landfill Directive implementation at liaison meetings with the NFA, and made presentations on waste classification at the NFA's recent Environment Forum.
	The Government's intention is that the agency should regulate the requirements of the Landfill Regulations during the period July 2004-July 2005 via the application of site-specific assessments. The agency is actively undertaking this work in order to provide for an appropriate level of environmental protection, conscious of any potential implications for hazardous waste capacity. This includes ensuring consideration of wastes that display hazard category H12 (substances and preparations which release toxic or very toxic gases in contact with water, air or an acid).

Landfill

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her assessment is of the impact on the non-ferrous metal industry of the change in the number of landfill sites to take hazardous waste; what guidance was given to the non-ferrous metal industry before 18 July; when the new requirements were introduced; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The cost of landfill disposal for the non-ferrous metal industry, as for other industries, is likely to rise. This will act as an encouragement to waste producers to examine their processes to see if waste arisings can be reduced and to consider other treatment and disposal options that may be more environmentally and economically sustainable than landfill. Defra and Environment Agency officials have met with representatives of the non-ferrous metal industry on a number of occasions in the past year to help them understand their obligations and to discuss any issues that arise. In addition, the Non-Ferrous Alliance is a member of the Hazardous Waste Forum, a group that consists of waste producers, waste managers, central and local government and regulators and looks at issues surrounding hazardous waste.

Magpies

David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effects of the increasing number of magpies on the small bird population of the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Magpie is known to take songbirds although the available evidence suggests that this does not have a significant adverse effect on their population levels. Defra issues a general licence allowing year round control of Magpies, and a small number of other species, to conserve wild birds. This licence may be used by authorised persons only and the landowners' permission must be obtained. This licence is among a number of general licences relating to birds that is currently the subject of a consultation exercise.
	The decline in farmland birds has come to prominence during the last 10 years, but long term data on bird numbers indicates that many of these declines began over 25 years ago. The precise reason for the declines in different species varies, but in the majority of cases can be attributed to an intensification of farming practices during recent decades. This is demonstrated by the fact that population declines have been more marked in intensively managed arable farmland habitats compared with other habitats. The population status of songbird and farmland bird species are monitored and Defra is aware of declines in certain species.

Marine Nature Reserves

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of British waters are (a) marine nature reserves and (b) closed to fishing.

Ben Bradshaw: There are three Marine Nature Reserves (MNRs)—Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland (165 km 2 ), Lundy in England (13.9 km 2 ) and Skomer in Wales (13.24 km 2 ). Data from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee's "Offshore Nature Project" gives the total area of UK territorial waters as 161,200 km 2 . The three MNRs together cover 0.12 per cent. of territorial waters.
	Of the three MNRs, only one, Lundy, includes an area within it which is closed to fishing covering 3.3 km 2 . The remaining MNRs are closed only to certain types of fishing: Skomer MNR is closed to beam trawling, dredging and scallop fishing by any means; Strangford Lough MNR has a temporary ban in place on fishing with mobile gear. In addition there are small areas closed to fishing as a result of oil and gas explorations and defence activities.
	There are also a number of areas where restrictions on certain types of fishing are in place to protect both habitats and species. These include: the Darwin Mounds cold water coral reefs where bottom trawling is prohibited in an area covering 1,381 km 2 ; the Mackerel Box, a large area in the Western Channel and the Cornish peninsular where mainstream mackerel fishing is prohibited; the Sandeel Box, off the north-east coast of the UK where industrial fishing is banned to protect the food source of a range of predators including sea-birds; and, 37 bass nursery areas around the coast of England and Wales. Data on inshore and offshore restricted areas is not collated centrally to enable calculation to be made of the percentage of UK territorial waters encompassed by these areas.

Marine Protection

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Government's policy is on marine protection following recommendations at the World Parks Congress in Durban last year.

Elliot Morley: The proposals for marine protection that emerged from the World Parks Congress were taken account of in the decision and work programme on marine and coastal biodiversity that was adopted at the Seventh Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in February.
	The Government are working through the European Union and the OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic to contribute to a global network of marine and coastal protected areas as agreed by the Parties. This is in line with the Government's Marine Stewardship initiative to better protect and manage the marine environment.

Marine Protection

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of (a) the economic benefits and (b) the environmental benefits of creating a series of marine parks.

Ben Bradshaw: A meaningful assessment of the economic and environmental benefits of a series of marine parks would depend on factors such as the purpose, number and magnitude of marine protected areas and which activities are regulated. Assessments of environmental benefits are undertaken for new sites designated under the Habitats and Birds Directives to assess their value in contributing to the restoration or maintenance of natural habitats and species of Community interest.
	The Review of Marine Nature Conservation Working Group gave consideration to the economic and environmental benefits of providing improved protection for important marine features and ecosystems, including an assessment of the relative efficiency with which environmental benefits were likely to be delivered by a range of designated areas, including marine parks. The Working Group's report was submitted to Government on 26 July. The Government will consider the recommendations of the report, including the future role of protected areas within an overall strategy for marine conservation.

Marine Protection

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received on (a) designating the River Exe in Devon a marine park and (b) creating a series of marine parks.

Ben Bradshaw: The Exe Estuary is classified as a Special Protection Area under the EC Wild Birds Directive. I am not aware of any formal representations made regarding designating the Exe Estuary as a marine park. I have, however, received a number of representations from a variety of organisations on providing improved protection to marine areas and the Government are considering these in the context of developing an overall strategy for marine conservation.

Meat Products (Injected Water)

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications for meat producers of supermarkets injecting water into meat products.

Alun Michael: Defra has not made such an assessment, but the Food Standards Agency held a stakeholder meeting earlier this year about the control and labelling of added water in meat products.
	The meeting concluded that these products should be clearly labelled, so that consumers can make informed choices about the products they buy. The agency is currently drawing up best practice guidelines to encourage clear labelling of these products.

Mercury

Bill Olner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the amount of mercury present in ashes after cremation.

Alun Michael: The question relates specifically to the residue of ashes left after cremation. The report of the monitoring undertaken by AEA Technology for the Federation of British Crematorium Authorities showed that all mercury is released into the atmosphere during cremation. It follows that we do not see mercury in ashes to be an issue.

Ministerial Travel Costs

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total cost of air travel between Northern Ireland and Great Britain was for (a) Ministers and (b) officials in the Department in the last year for which figures are available.

Margaret Beckett: No DEFRA Minister has visited Northern Ireland during the past year.

Ministerial Visits

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list visits made by each Minister in the Department between December 2003 and April 2004, broken down by (a) date, (b) constituency visited and (c) cost.

Margaret Beckett: Between December 2003 and April 2004 departmental Ministers have undertaken 63 visits in the UK. Information on constituencies visited and details of the cost of each individual visit could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Ministerial Visits

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the travel costs incurred (a) by her Department and its predecessors and (b) by each Minister within her Department, for each of the last 10 years.

Margaret Beckett: In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government has published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government has also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. These report information reaching back to 1995–96. Information for earlier years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost and in some cases will no longer be held. Information for 2003–04 will be published in due course.
	The following table shows domestic ministerial and overall departmental expenditure recorded since the Department was formed.
	
		£000
		
			 Year end 31 March Ministerial travel Departmental travel 
		
		
			 2001–02 53 11,249 
			 2002–03 91 7,272 
			 2003–04 64 7,135 
		
	
	The figures for 2001–02 and 2002–03 include travel expenses (£4,579,000 and £469,000 respectively) incurred as a result of foot and mouth disease.
	The figures for both departmental and ministerial travel include the use of helicopters, chartered planes, airline tickets and trains and can be broken down further only at disproportionate cost.

Ministerial Visits

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many journeys were made by helicopter by each Minister in her Department and its predecessors in each of the last 10 years; and what the journey length was in each case.

Margaret Beckett: There is no central record of RAF Helicopter journeys made by DEFRA Ministers in the financial year 2001–02. Since the financial year 2002–03, only one helicopter journey of 45 minutes duration has been made by any DEFRA Minister.

Ministerial Visits

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which of her Ministers will be attending the Country Landowner's Association Game Fair on 23–24 July.

Margaret Beckett: None.

Nappies

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with (a) ministerial colleagues within the Department of Health and (b) management within the NHS in respect of the use of (i) disposable and (ii) reusable nappies within hospitals.

Elliot Morley: The use of disposable nappies in the NHS is well established. We want to ensure that parents who are interested in re-usable nappies are provided with information about that option alongside information on disposables. As such, I attended a meeting with my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Public Health (Melanie Johnson), in July last year and the Women's Environmental Network (WEN). I have also written to her with a view to meeting again to discuss the case for a strong lead from hospitals and health trusts on the issue of re-usable nappies.
	I have had no discussions with NHS management.

Fisheries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to modify the days at sea restrictions in the Western Channel sole fishery to enable fishermen to exploit non-Total Allowable Catch species.

Ben Bradshaw: There are no days at sea restrictions in the western Channel.

Official Engagements

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 15 July 2004, Official Report, column 1300W, on official engagements, if she will give a daily breakdown of her diary for the period in question, giving dates and times of each meeting.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 22 July 2004
	I have nothing to add to my answer to the hon. Member of 15 July, Official Report, Column 1300W.

Older Cattle

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to implement the Food Standards Agency recommendation that older cattle may now enter the food chain.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government are still considering Food Standards Agency (FSA) advice. No decision has been made as yet.

Over-30 Month Scheme

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proposals she has to amend the over-30 month scheme; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The over-30 month scheme is kept under review. It may be amended in line with any change to the over-30 month (OTM) rule. The Government are still considering advice from the Food Standards Agency on the OTM rule. No decision has been made as yet.

Parliamentary Questions

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the question tabled by the hon. Member for Maldon and East Chelmsford on 27 May 2004, ref 177397.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 13 July 2004
	I replied to the hon. Member on 15 July 2004, Official Report, column 1294W.

Polish/UK Fishing Fleets

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what European community funds have been allocated to (a) Poland and (b) the UK in the same period for the modernisation, restructuring and decommissioning of the fishing fleet; and when such funds were first made available.

Ben Bradshaw: The Polish plan for allocating the Community financial provision under the EU FIFO fisheries structural fund envisages about 16.3 million euros being spent on modernisation of existing vessels, and about 80.1 million euros on decommissioning vessels. This covers the period from Poland's accession to the EU in May 2004 to the end of 2006.
	The Fisheries Departments in the UK are currently reviewing what expenditure should be allocated to modernising, restructuring and decommissioning vessels for the equivalent period, and equivalent figures to the Polish plans are not available.
	The current programme under the FIFO scheme began in 2000.

Post-consumer Paper Waste

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what strategy is in place to increase the collection of post-consumer paper waste for recycling in the UK over the next five years; what specific targets have been set; and what measures are in place to ensure that these targets are met.

Elliot Morley: The Government have introduced a number of measures to increase the recycling of paper. For example, the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is developing markets for waste paper as one of it's priority materials, and has been allocated £30 million over three years to increase awareness of waste issues, and particularly recycling, amongst householders. The Government have also set statutory weight-based recycling targets, for every local authority. Measures taken to help authorities meet their targets include a Performance Reward Grant (PRG). This will be funded by £45 million in 2005–06, rising to £90 million in subsequent years; and will replace the Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund that has been contributing to improving local authorities performance over the past three years.
	Regulations implementing the Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste (2004/12/EC) have set targets for recycling paper packaging waste, peaking at 70 per cent. in 2008. Voluntary agreements are in place with the Newspaper Publishers Association and the Direct Marketing Association (DMA). These will increase the recycled content of newsprint to 70 per cent. in 2006 and of DMA literature to 70 per cent. in 2013. Targets set so far have been exceeded. Government are negotiating a similar agreement with the Periodical Publishers Association, to increase the recycling of post consumer magazines. In addition, under the Household Waste Recycling Act 2003, local authorities will have to collect at least two recyclable materials separate from other household waste by 2010.

Purfleet Industrial Estate

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Environment Agency last inspected the potential for the flooding of the Purfleet Industrial Estate, Essex consequent on the surface water flow from the A13 road; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 22 July 2004
	Surface water flooding through run off from roads is the responsibility of the relevant highways authority.
	I understand however that the highways authority consulted the National Rivers Authority (the Environment Agency's predecessor) over proposed surface water discharges from the A13 improvements during the early 1990s. Consultation at that time would have involved both specific and general technical assessments of existing surface water drainage capacities within the surrounding area. One of the options considered would have been attenuation of increased flow from the A13 improvement works.

Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the future of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee.

Elliot Morley: I provided a written statement on the future of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee to this House on 22 March 2004. There is nothing to be added to this.

Ragwort

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department has issued written advice to (a) local authorities and (b) the Highways Agency setting out their responsibilities under the Code of Practice on How to Prevent the Spread of Ragwort; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: I launched the Code of Practice on How to Prevent the Spread of Ragwort at the Royal Show on 4 July. The code provides comprehensive guidance for all those with land management responsibility, including the Highways Agency and local authorities, on how to develop a strategic approach to ragwort control where there is a risk to animal welfare. It sets out clearly the responsibilities of horse and livestock owners, as well as those of land managers. The code provides advice on how to assess the risk posed by ragwort to horses and other grazing animals, the different control methods available, environmental factors, and health and safety issues.
	A copy of the code has been sent to the Highways Agency and to all local authorities. I have urged all landowners and land managers to work with horse and animal owners to implement the recommendations of the code which have legal underpinning in enforcement proceedings under the Weeds Act 1959. A representative of the Highways Agency was involved last year when I launched an earlier draft of the code at Hickstead as a voluntary code, prior to completion of the legislation and spoke in support of the code.

Recreational Sea Fishing

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the financial contribution to the economy of recreational sea fishing in Britain broken down by principal categories of expenditure.

Ben Bradshaw: A recent report commissioned by Defra on the economic contribution of sea angling estimates a figure of £538 million for England and Wales. This figure relates to total direct and indirect expenditure on the sport. Expenditure varies between shore and boat anglers, but on average about 42 per cent. of the total is spent on purchase and operation or chartering of boats, 26 per cent. on tackle, and 32 per cent. on food, accommodation, transport and other costs.

Recreational Sea Fishing

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether catches landed by recreational fishing vessels are subject to the Common Fisheries Policy quota restrictions.

Ben Bradshaw: EU Regulations governing the Common Fisheries Policy require account to be taken of all landings, with certain specified exceptions, for the purposes of quota management: there is no exemption for landings made by recreational fishing vessels. However, within the UK, vessels engaged in recreational fishing are not generally subject to quantitative restrictions on landings: they might be prohibited from making further landings if it became necessary to close a fishery to the commercial inshore fleet, or to the UK fleet as a whole, when the UK's quota for that fishery had been taken in full.

Recycling (Greater London)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the amount of (a) household and (b) industrial waste recycled by boroughs within the Greater London area was in each of the last three years.

Elliot Morley: Latest results from the Defra Municipal Waste Management Survey show the following amounts of household waste recycled or composted in the Greater London area:
	
		
			  Tonnes 
		
		
			 2000–01 304,000 
			 2001–02 319,000 
			 2002–03 368,000 
		
	
	The latest results available for industrial and commercial waste, reused or recycled are from the Environment Agency, National Waste Production Survey, 1998–99. Greater London results show 2,454,000 tonnes.

Sewers and Drains Review

Liz Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she intends to publish her findings on the Review of Existing Sewers and Drains in England and Wales consultation document published in July 2003.

Elliot Morley: The Department plans to publish a response to the consultation in the early autumn. This will summarise responses, give the Government's views and set out the issues that need to be addressed before a final decision can be made. A decision paper should be published early next year.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the (a) number, (b) percentage and (c) location of sites of special scientific interest that have been subject to inappropriate development since May 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: For the purposes of this answer, "inappropriate development" is taken to mean development that is causing the unfavourable condition 1 of a site of special scientific interest (SSSI). To provide this information since 1997 would involve disproportionate cost. Factors adversely affecting sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) are continually updated according to the latest condition assessment completed by English Nature conservation officers. All SSSIs are assessed on a rolling basis at least once every six years. English Nature carried out the first round of condition assessments on the complete SSSI series in England between 1997–2003.
	According to the latest condition assessments 2 for each unit, 1,052 hectares of SSSI land 3 , on 55 different SSSIs, were in unfavourable condition due to activities authorised by development or mineral planning permission, excluding peat permissions. This is equivalent to 0.1 per cent. of the total SSSI area in England. The SSSI name, county and unit area adversely affected are detailed in the following table.
	
		
			 County SSSI Name Unit area (ha) 
		
		
			 Avon Severn Estuary 39.18 
			 Bedfordshire Totternhoe Chalk Quarry 1.21 
			 Buckinghamshire Stone 0.13 
			 Cambridgeshire Little Paxton Pits 6.97 
			 Cornwall Gwithian to Mexico Towans 0.18 
			 Cornwall River Camel Valley and Tributaries 21.58 
			 Cumbria Ash Fell Edge 7.96 
			 Cumbria Duddon Estuary 4.46 
			 Cumbria River Kent and Tributaries 1.14 
			 Dorset Canford Heath 4.14 
			 Dorset Ebblake Bog 9.95 
			 Dorset Holt and West Moors Heaths 1.24 
			 Dorset Parley Common 0.99 
			 Dorset Povington and Grange Heaths 9.44 
			 Dorset Slop Bog and Uddens Heath 5.79 
			 Dorset Wareham Meadows 57.11 
			 Durham Fairy Holes Cave 213.6 
			 East Sussex Maplehurst Wood 13.81 
			 East Sussex Rye Harbour 8.2 
			 Essex Purfleet Chalk Pits 4 
			 Essex West Wood, Little Sampford 23.79 
			 Hampshire Avon Valley (Bickton to Christchurch) 155.19 
			 Hampshire Castle Bottom to Yateley Common and Hawley Commons 77.02 
			 Hampshire Hurst Castle and Lymington River Estuary 45.24 
			 Hampshire Moorgreen Meadows 10.37 
			 Hampshire Pamber Forest and Silchester Common 0.18 
			 Hampshire Portsdown 2.91 
			 Hampshire Shortheath Common 6.01 
			 Hereford and Worcester Puxton Marshes 5.18 
			 Isle of Wight Briddlesford Copses 0.91 
			 Isle of Wight Prospect Quarry 4.34 
			 Isle of Wight Whitecliff Bay and Bembridge Ledges 1.51 
			 Kent Darenthwood 4.11 
			 Kent Dungeness Not available 
			 Kent Sandwich Bay to Hacklinge Marshes 120.99 
			 Kent Southborough Pit 1.08 
			 Kent The Swale 61.19 
			 Leicestershire Enderby Warren Quarry 1.71 
			 Norfolk River Wensum 2.84 
			 North Yorkshire Acaster South Ings 23.05 
			 Northamptonshire Bozeat Meadow 2.6 
			 Northamptonshire Cowthick Quarry 1.21 
			 Northamptonshire Higham Ferrers Gravel Pits 3.76 
			 Northamptonshire Southfield Farm Marsh 1.06 
			 Northumberland The Scroggs 1.37 
			 Shropshire Allscott Settling Ponds 28.16 
			 Shropshire Fenn's, Whixall, Bettisfield, Wem & Cadney Mosses 2.02 
			 South Yorkshire Sprotbrough Gorge 12.89 
			 South Yorkshire Wadsley Fossil Forest 0.21 
			 Staffordshire Biddulph's Pool and No Man's Bank 43.73 
			 Staffordshire Chasewater Heaths 1.33 
			 Staffordshire Doxey and Tillington Marshes 1.39 
			 Suffolk Cavenham—Icklingham Heaths 11.62 
			 West Yorkshire Bingley South Bog 4.33 
			 West Yorkshire Nostell Brickyard Quarry 11.44 
		
	
	1 Unfavourable condition comprises the condition categories of unfavourable no change, unfavourable declining, part destroyed and destroyed, according to the Joint Nature Conservation Committee Common Standards.
	2 Data extracted on 14 July 2004
	3 SSSIs are divided into units. A factor affecting part of a SSSI unit is attributed to the entire unit area for the condition assessment purposes.

Sugar

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what aspects of the reform of the EU Sugar Regime are designed to encourage farmers to produce biomass and biofuels.

Elliot Morley: The European Commission's latest Communication on sugar reform, presented to the Agriculture Council on 19 July, aims to move away from the present systems of price and production support towards a sustainable decoupled, market-based approach in line with other recent CAP reforms. It would involve both price and quota cuts in an initial phase, followed by a further review in 2008. This approach, which the Government welcomes as an important step in the right direction, should help to make sugar beet itself more competitive with other sources of biomass and biofuels, as well as promoting diversification among existing growers.

Warm Front

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the role of local government is in delivering the Warm Front programme.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 21 July 2004
	Warm Front is managed on behalf of Defra by two Scheme Managers—Eaga Partnership Ltd. and Powergen Warm Front Ltd. Both Scheme Managers work closely with a range of national and local organisations, including local authorities, to help promote the availability of Warm Front and to encourage take up.
	Both scheme managers work with local authorities in a range of activities such as local roadshows and events, promotional campaigns, the development of affordable warmth strategies, energy awareness days also involving local MPs and include local authorities in regular updates about the scheme.
	In addition to this, both Scheme Managers provide information to local authorities in their area for their returns to the Department under the Home Energy Conservation Act.

Waste Management

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance was given to waste producers on the conditions of storage on pollution prevention and control sites of orphan wastes; what requests she received from waste producers for advice; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency is responsible for regulating the storage of wastes, in accordance with environmental legislation, in England and Wales. Normally, some form of authorization, a licence or permit, is required; in some cases an exemption may be appropriate.
	Anyone, including producers, who either wishes to alter his/her authorisation or requires a new one, should apply to the agency. Guidance on how to apply is available on the agency's website: www.environment-agency.org.uk.

Whaling

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is the Government's policy to continue to oppose the re-introduction of whaling other than by certain indigenous peoples.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 22 July 2004
	The UK Government are opposed to all forms of whaling other than limited subsistence whaling by indigenous people to meet a defined and substantiated need. We strongly support the current International Whaling Commission moratorium on commercial whaling.

Wind Farms

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of wind farms on wild birds.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government believes that the generation of electricity from wind farms can make a major contribution to achieving the 2010 targets for renewable energy. It is estimated that, if global warning continues as at present, 25 species of bird in Britain will be extinct by 2050.
	The Department for Trade and Industry works closely with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (which, like the DTI, has regulatory functions for offshore wind farm developments), the statutory nature conservation and other organisations as appropriate, to ensure that decisions on whether to grant consent for wind farm developments are considered in the light of the best available information about impacts on the environment and on birds in particular.
	One of the outcomes of this close working is that applicants for consents for those offshore wind farm developments proposed under Round 2 of Crown Estate leasing, will be required to provide two years of bird survey data as part of the environmental reports that are submitted with consent applications.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum Seekers

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers requested entrance to European Union member states in (a) 1997, (b) 1999, (c) 2001, (d) 2003 and (e) 2004.

Des Browne: Information on the number of asylum seekers requesting entrance to European Union member states is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. For example for the UK the majority of applications are made in country and it is therefore not possible to identify such cases as asylum seekers prior to entry.
	Including dependants, applications for asylum in the UK fell by 41 per cent. in 2003 compared with a fall of 10 per cent. in applications to the rest of the EU (excluding Italy). When the relative size of domestic populations is taken into account, the UK ranks seventh among EU countries (excluding Italy) in terms of asylum seekers per head of population.
	Information on the number of asylum seekers applying for asylum in European Union member states is given in the table. (Data for 2004 are not currently available and hence data for the 10 new EU member states are not included.)
	
		Applications(49) received for asylum in Europe, including dependants, by year of application, 1997 to 2003
		
			 European Union Countries 1997 1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			 Austria 6,700 13,800 20,100 18,300 
			 Belgium(50) 13,300 25,000 40,800 48,700 
			 Denmark 5,100 5,700 6,500 10,100 
			 Finland 1,000 1,300 3,100 3,200 
			 France(50) 24,200 25,500 35,100 44,200 
			 Germany 104,400 98,600 95,100 78,600 
			 Greece(51) 4,400 3,000 1,500 3,000 
			 Ireland 3,900 4,600 7,700 10,900 
			 Italy(52) 1,700 9,500 33,400 18,000 
			 Luxembourg(51) 400 1,700 2,900 600 
			 Netherlands 34,400 45,200 39,300 43,900 
			 Portugal(51) 300 400 300 200 
			 Spain 5,000 6,600 8,400 7,200 
			 Sweden 9,600 12,800 11,200 16,300 
			 United Kingdom(53) 41,500 58,500 91,200 98,900 
			 Total EU 255,800 312,300 396,700 401,900 
		
	
	
		
			  2001 6 2002 6 2003 7 Asylum seekers/1,000 of population 8 
		
		
			 Austria 30,100 39,400 32,400 3.9 
			 Belgium(51) 28,000 21,400 19,300 1.9 
			 Denmark 12,500 5,900 4,600 0.8 
			 Finland 1,700 3,400 3,100 0.6 
			 France(51) 53,900 58,100 70,700 1.2 
			 Germany 88,300 71,100 50,400 0.6 
			 Greece(52) 5,500 5,700 8,200 0.7 
			 Ireland 10,300 11,600 7,900 2.0 
			 Italy(53) 9,600 7,300 n/a n/a 
			 Luxembourg(52) 700 1,000 1,600 3.1 
			 Netherlands 32,600 18,700 13,400 0.8 
			 Portugal(52) 200 200 100 0.0 
			 Spain 9,200 6,200 5,700 0.1 
			 Sweden 23,500 33,000 31,400 3.5 
			 United Kingdom 91,600 103,100 61,100 1.0 
			 Total EU 397,600 386,100 309,700 0.9 
		
	
	(49) Figures rounded to the nearest 100.
	(50) Figures based on IGC data but adjusted to include an estimated number of dependants.
	(51) Figures based on UNHCR data, including dependants.
	(52) IGC data for 1997 to 1998. UNHCR data for 1999 to 2002
	(53) Figures have been adjusted to include an estimated number of dependants between 1997 and 2001 . 2002 and 2003 figures based on actual data..
	(54) Revised figures.
	(55) Provisional figures.
	(56) Source: 2003 World Population Data Sheet, Population Reference Bureau website.
	Information on asylum applications in EU member states is published in quarterly web pages and in the annual statistical bulletin 'Asylum Statistics United Kingdom'. Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 2003 will be available from the end of August 2004. Copies of these publications and others relating to general immigration to the UK are available from the Library and from the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate web site at http://www. homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum Seekers

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has commissioned to establish the number of failed asylum applicants who remain in the United Kingdom illegally; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The Government have commissioned research into the methods used in other countries to estimate the size of their illegal populations in order to define methods appropriate for the UK. The work on this is ongoing.

Asylum Seekers

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the current time taken to return failed asylum seekers.

Des Browne: I refer my hon. Friend to a reply given to a similar question posed by Gareth Thomas MP on 12 June 2003.
	The Immigration Service (IS) is fully committed to removing failed asylum seekers and others who have no entitlement to be in the United Kingdom.
	There are no publishable guidelines or data on how quickly removal should take place. The speed with which a failed asylum seeker is removed very much depends on the individual circumstances of each case, whether there are any barriers to removal (including lack of co-operation by the government of their country of origin) and how quickly these can be overcome.

Asylum Seekers

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office regarding the conditions of failed Somali asylum seekers who have been returned to Somalia.

Des Browne: The Department for International Development (DFID) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) were informed of our programme of enforced returns to Somalia and we keep in close contact with these Departments at official and ministerial level on the situation in Somalia. The Home Office's Country Information and Policy Unity (CIPU) produce country information materials that are used as the background against which asylum applications are considered. The FCO are consulted about these country information materials, prior to the publication of the documents in order to ensure that this material is accurate and comprehensive.
	Caseworkers also have access at all times to senior caseworkers with specific country knowledge, as well as to CIPU which provides up-to-date and specific information on request, drawing on a range of reliable sources, including the FCO, with which CIPU maintains regular contact. If, on the basis of the available information, a Somali asylum applicant is found not to be in need of protection by the Home Office and by the independent Immigration Appellate Authority, then it is considered safe for that person to be returned to Somalia, and they will be considered for removal. We do not routinely monitor the conditions of failed asylum seekers once they have been returned to their country, having been found to have no protection needs.
	It is also worth noting that according to the UNHCR's 2003 Global Refugee Report, 9,543 Somali refugees were assisted to return to North West Somalia (Somaliland) from Ethiopia and Djibouti, while 680 returned to North-west Somalia (Puntland) and four to Mogadishu, bringing the total number of assisted Somali returnees to 10,227 last year.

Asylum Seekers

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many single additional payments were made to asylum seekers, under Regulation 11 of the Asylum Support Regulations 2000, in each financial year since 2000–01;
	(2)  what the estimated cost savings are of the proposed abolition of the £50 single additional payment available to National Asylum Support Service supported asylum seekers.

Des Browne: The estimated number of Single Additional Payments made since 2000–01 is set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Financial Year Number 
		
		
			 2000–01 2,000 
			 2001–02 32,000 
			 2002–03 47,000 
			 2003–04 63,000 
		
	
	We estimate that abolition will save the Exchequer approximately £4 million in the next financial year.
	Single Additional Payments were introduced when financial assistance was paid by way of vouchers. Now that support is provided entirely in cash, asylum seekers are no longer limited to where they can shop and can get better value for their money. Moreover, as applications are being processed more quickly, with 80 per cent. of initial claims processed within two months, the justification for one-off payments every six months is reduced.
	Asylum seekers can still apply for a £300 maternity payment and since March 2003 additional support for pregnant women and children under three has meant that the level of asylum support has increased overall for these more vulnerable groups.

Autopsies

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many autopsies have been carried out in (a) the UK, (b) Huddersfield and (c) Kirklees in each of the last 10 years.

Paul Goggins: Information on the total number of autopsies (post-mortem examinations) in the UK is not collected centrally. The recording of information at the time of registration of death is not considered to be sufficiently reliable to give definite figures or to monitor trends.
	Information on post-mortem examinations other than those ordered by a coroner or procurator fiscal is not available for Scotland and Northern Ireland, and is only available for England and Wales since 1997. Figures are given in the first column of the table.
	The table also gives (where known), for each year since 1993, the number of post-mortem examinations conducted in those deaths which were investigated by coroners in England and Wales, and in Northern Ireland, and by Procurators Fiscal in Scotland; and in the last column, in the coroner's district of the western part of West Yorkshire metropolitan county (which includes both Huddersfield and Kirklees).
	Information on post-mortem examinations carried out in Huddersfield and Kirklees in deaths where the coroner was not involved is not available.
	
		Post-mortems conducted in the UK, 1993–2002
		
			 Year England and Wales, certified by doctor, with post-mortem England and Wales coroner post-mortems Scotland: post mortems ordered by Procurator Fiscal 1 Northern Ireland coroner post-mortems Post mortems carried out on the order of the West Yorkshire (West) coroner (includes Huddersfield and Kirklees) 
		
		
			 1993 n/a 129,148 n/a 1,428 1,829 
			 1994 n/a 125,176 5,868 1,471 1,815 
			 1995 n/a 126,398 5,905 1,524 1,963 
			 1996 n/a 126,184 5,875 1,479 2,022 
			 1997 3,061 123,015 5,680 1,525 1,995 
			 1998 3,524 124,356 5,757 1,672 2,068 
			 1999 3,496 124,780 5,946 1,517 1,858 
			 2000 4,228 124,536 5,771 1,333 1,775 
			 2001 2,546 121,112 5,685 1,408 1,864 
			 2002 n/a 117,684 5,699 1,436 1,754 
		
	
	n/a—not available
	(57) "Fiscal" post-mortems are reported by financial year. In this table the figure has been assigned to the year containing the April-December portion of the financial year.
	Sources:
	Second column-ONS; third column-Home Office; fourth and fifth columns-Crown office and Courts office in Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively.

Cultural Objects

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has commissioned into the link between the black market in stolen or otherwise tainted cultural objects and organised crime; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: We commissioned independent consultants to carry out an Options Appraisal on the potential establishment of a database of stolen or illegally removed cultural items. As part of that work, the consultants spoke to the police and others in the public and private sectors about the link with organised crime and the likely impact of such a database on crime levels. This work produced no evidence that a database of stolen cultural items will reduce crime, nor any data on the extent of organised crime involvement. This confirms the evidence we gave to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee on 11 November 2003.

Universities (Charitable Status)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government have to change the charitable status of universities.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Government intend, as set out in the Draft Charities Bill, that the Higher Education Funding Council for England would regulate English universities in regard to Charity Law. The regulation of Welsh universities has not been fully decided although they would also be regulated in regard to Charity Law. This is a change in regulation, not in charitable status, and universities will remain charities.

"Reducing Crime—Changing Lives"

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a summary of responses to "Reducing Crime—Changing Lives".

Paul Goggins: A summary of the responses to "Reducing Crime—Changing Lives" will be published in due course in accordance with the Cabinet Office code of practice on consultation.

999 Services

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police constabularies have a centralised 999 service; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: All forces deal with 999 calls from their service provider, either BT or Cable and Wireless, locally. These calls are sent to specific numbers provided by each force to a central point within the force; this can be the Force Control Room for those forces that do not have a centralised call handling function or to a designated Communication Centre in the case offerees that have centralised their call handling functions. The manner in which forces deal with the 999s from that point varies depending on whether the Force Control takes ownership or whether they have a centralised control/communication centres and they take ownership or whether they pass command and control to their Divisions, Basic Command Units or OCUs.
	At the present time there are about 32 forces who have a centralised function in one form or another and most other forces are in the planning stages to go down that route. However, information on how each force deals with the calls locally is not collated centrally.

999 Services

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many 999 control centres there are, broken down by police constabulary; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: 32 forces have a centralised call handling function for dealing with 999 calls. Most other forces are currently in the process of planning to establish such a function.

999 Services

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many calls were made to 999 police services in (a) Essex and (b) Southend-on-Sea in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: A file will be sent to the Library. The Home Office does not collect total calls for service at a Basic Command Unit level, only at force level data.

999 Services

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time taken for a call to be answered by the 999 police service was in each year since 1997, broken down by police constabulary; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: This information is not collected. However, we are able to state what percentage of calls are answered within target time, for example 90 per cent. of all 999 calls were answered within 10 seconds. Forces will set their own target time, so it is not comparable when 90 per cent. of 999 calls are answered within 10 seconds and 80 per cent. are answered within 15 seconds.

999 Services

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what performance targets are in place for the 999 Police Service, relating to customer satisfaction; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: We are committed to improving the quality of service the police provide to the public when they are in contact with them.
	Call handling is a particularly important aspect of this service. A member of the public should be able to expect the same high quality service whenever they are in contact with the police, which is responsive to their needs, irrespective of where they live.
	We are working with partners, including the Association of Chief Police Officers, to introduce minimum standards for service to the public, including the answering of telephone calls. We will also ensure that people are clear about the best way to contact the police.
	New performance measures for user satisfaction with police services were introduced in April 2004, as part of the Policing Performance Assessment Framework (PPAF). These include measures which report satisfaction of users who have contacted the police by 999 and other means with:
	ease of making contact with the police,
	the actions taken by the police,
	how well they were kept informed of progress and
	the way they were treated by police staff and
	the overall service provided.
	The measures recognise that it is the quality of service provided, and not just speed of the initial answer that is important to users of police services.

Age Cards

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the (a) availability and (b) misuse of fake proof of age cards; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: We have been working closely with the British Retail Consortium (BRC) on the Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) which aims to ensure that different proof of age schemes comply with common standards. This is indicated by displaying the PASS holographic logo on the card. Through the BRC and other groups we encourage retailers to accept only PASS compliant cards. A person using a fake proof of age card commits an offence if it is used to deceive.
	In the longer term, the introduction of ID cards will also provide retailers with a single, clear and highly reliable means of verifying proof of age.

Alcohol Promotions

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ban (a) happy hours and (b) one-price-for-all-you-can-drink promotions in pubs.

Hazel Blears: We are currently having discussions with the industry around the development of the social responsibility scheme for alcohol retailers. This was one of the recommendations contained in the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England, published by the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit on 15 March 2004. Alcohol retailers will be encouraged to sign up to the scheme which will include a commitment from pubs and clubs to clamp down on irresponsible promotions.
	The scheme will be voluntary, but we will be assessing its effectiveness early in the next parliament. If the impact is not as we would expect, we will look to further measures, including the possibility of legislation.

Animal Research

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officer hours were spent by the Cambridgeshire police force in tackling criminal activity linked to animal rights extremism in each year since 1999.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 19 July 2004
	Information on police hours spent tackling criminal activity linked to animal rights extremism is not collected centrally.
	However, Cambridgshire Constabulary tell me that since 1 January 2000 they have spent a total of 35,569 days or 357,548 hours on the response to activities of animal rights protestors.

Anti-terrorism

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has collated about the number of arrests under the anti-terrorism legislation over the last 12 months; how many led to (a) charges and (b) release; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Due to the method by which Terrorism Act arrests are recorded, figures for the requested period are not available. The closest period we can compile is 11 March 2003 to 30 June 2004. For this period, 274 people were arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000. 46 of these were charged under the Act. The remainder were either released without charge, bailed to return, cautioned, charged under other legislation or dealt with under immigration or mental health legislation.

Anti-terrorism

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reasons were for the arrests of seven people in Greater Manchester and three others in other parts of England on 19 April under terrorism legislation; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 21 July 2004
	This was an intelligence-led operation and the police would have been failing in their duty if they did not act on any available information and investigate its veracity.
	The police decided not to press charges and all the suspects were released without charge.

Appeals Processing

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the appeal in the case of NA, reference D1038877, was received by (a) the Home Office and (b) the Appeals Processing Centre; and when he expects the Appeals Processing Centre to pass it to the Independent Appellate Authority.

Des Browne: holding answer 22 July 2004
	This appeal was received by the Home Office, Immigration and Nationality Directorate Appeals Processing Centre, on 18 May 2004. The appeal has been processed and was forwarded to the Immigration Appellate Authority on 19 July 2004.

Burglaries

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many three strike rule burglaries there were in the last year for which figures are available; how many resulted in a prison sentence; and what the average period was prior to remission.

Paul Goggins: The number of persons sentenced in 2002 under the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 has been published in Criminal Statistics England and Wales 2002, Table 4G. The corresponding average sentence imposed by the courts is three years.

CCTV (Tamworth)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much public money has been spent on CCTV cameras in Tamworth constituency since 1995–96.

Hazel Blears: Since 1996 the Home Office has provided Tamworth borough council with £382,000 for close circuit television schemes.
	Allocation of that funding locally is a matter for Tamworth borough council and the Staffordshire police.

Community Sentences

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of the success rate of community sentences.

Des Browne: Data on breach rules are published in Criminal Statistics England and Wales 2002.

Community Support Officers

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) community support officers and (b) community wardens there are in each police authority area in Wales; and what the projected change in numbers is over the next four years

Des Browne: At the end of June this year the number of Community Support Officers (CSOs) on patrol in each police authority area in Wales and new ones successfully bid for in the recent third round of funding was as follows:
	
		
			 Force CSOs already on patrol Additional CSOs for 2004–05 
		
		
			 Dyfed-Powys 4 6 
			 Gwent 48 10 
			 North Wales 8 25 
			 South Wales 50 5 
		
	
	The new Neighbourhood Policing Fund will support the recruitment of 20,000 extra Community Support Officers and wardens by 2008.
	Community or Neighbourhood wardens are not employed by police authorities but by organisations such as local authorities or housing associations. Information on their numbers is not held centrally.

Parliamentary Questions

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will answer question number 163249 regarding computer misuse in his Department, tabled by the hon. Member for Northavon on 18 March.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 12 July 2004
	I replied to the hon. Member on 22 July 2004, Official Report, column 578W.

Contingency Planning

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on emergency planning arrangements in the UK.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 20 July 2004
	My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary makes regular statements to the House on emergency planning arrangements in the UK. The last such statement was made on 25 February 2004, Official Report, column 41WS, and these issues were addressed in the Intelligence Security Commission (ISC) debate on 8 July and extensively in a joint evidence session the Home Secretary gave to a special joint meeting of the Home Affairs and Defence Select Committees.
	In addition, the 2004 Spending Review (Cm6237) set out details of the significant new investment that the Government have made in this field.

Correctional Services Review

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons Patrick Carter was selected to carry out the correctional services review.

Paul Goggins: Patrick Carter, a non-executive member of the Prison Service Board and the Home Office Board, was selected to carry out the correctional services review on the strength of his previous experience within the correctional services.

Correspondence

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his officials at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate will answer letters dated 12 March and 20 April from the hon. Member for Vauxhall about a constituent, reference number: A571357.

Des Browne: A response to the letter of 12 March 2004 was sent to my hon. Friend on 9 July 2004. The Immigration and Nationality Directorate do not have a record of receiving my hon. Friend's letter of 20 April 2004 but they are contacting her office to clarify the matter.

Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a reply will be sent to the hon. Member for Walsall, North's letter of 8 June concerning a constituent, ref 5835523.

Des Browne: I wrote to my hon. Friend on 24 August.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 2 June 2004 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms K Akhtar.

David Blunkett: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 27 July 2004.

Country Status

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many countries had their status changed from unsafe to receive failed asylum seekers in the last 12 months.

Des Browne: Countries of origin of asylum seekers are not designated as safe or unsafe to receive failed asylum seekers. All asylum and human rights claims are considered on their individual merits in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Individual asylum seekers found by both the Home Office and the independent Appellate Authority not to be at risk of persecution and not in need of humanitarian protection are considered for removal on a case by case basis.
	Separately, section 94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 provides for the designation of countries which are considered to be generally safe and from which many asylum claims are likely to be clearly unfounded.

Crime (Public Expenditure)

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent in real terms on tackling crime in each of the last 25 years, broken down by police authority area.

Hazel Blears: This information is not available. General government grants (Principal Home Office police grant and Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Revenue Support grant) are normally distributed to police authorities using the police funding formula that takes account of the whole range of policing activity, including tackling crime.
	Force net expenditure on policing in England and Wales has increased from £1,468 million in 1979–80 to an estimated £9,157 million in 2003–04, an increase of 100 per cent. in real terms.
	Source:
	Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Police statistics

Crime Reduction Policy

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress made towards local crime reduction targets in each area participating in the Small Retailers in Deprived Areas scheme.

Hazel Blears: pursuant to her reply, 10 March 2004, Official Report, c.1573W
	Due to a printing error, the percentage sign was missing from the answer given. A corrected version is as follows.
	In June 2001, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced funding of £15 million over three years for a project to improve the security of small retailers in the 10 per cent. most deprived areas throughout England and Wales.
	Individual projects are developed by local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships in conjunction with Regional Home Office Directors. Part of this process is to ensure adequate local targets have been set, and systems put in place to measure performance against them.
	A detailed evaluation of the scheme is currently under way and will be completed in the autumn. The findings, which will be widely disseminated, will identify effective interventions that have been shown to have a beneficial impact on crime against small retailers. The evaluation will also examine other ways in which the scheme has impacted upon businesses and the surrounding retail environment—such as the fear of crime among business, fear of crime among customers, business viability and partnership working.

Criminal Justice Act 2003

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will amend the Criminal Justice Act 2003 to exempt all police officers from being required to be available for jury service; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: We have no intention of amending the provisions in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 relating to jury service. Under these provisions a large number of occupations ceased to be exempt from, or to have a right to decline, serving on juries. This will allow juries to be more representative of the communities that they serve.

Criminal Records Bureau

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what advice Essex police have given to the Criminal Records Bureau as to their estimated despatch time for returning applications; what factors affect the time scale for the process; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the cause of delay to processing Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) application No. 4881924 is; on which date the CRB forwarded this application for checking by the Essex police; and when the constituent of the hon. Member for Thurrock can expect a reply.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 22 July 2004
	The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) received application No. 4881924 on 7 May 2004. Following initial checks, the application was sent to Essex Constabulary in mid-May and it was returned to the bureau on 19 July. The Disclosure was completed and issued to your constituent on this date and I trust that it has now been received. I apologise for any inconvenience caused by its delay.
	The Criminal Records Bureau aims to complete 90 per cent. of all Enhanced Disclosures within four weeks and has been regularly meeting these targets since June 2003.
	Factors such as the volume of applications, the number and availability of staff, the number and type of police data bases searched and the existence of any relevant intelligence on Disclosure applicants can affect processing time scales at any police force, including Essex Constabulary. The estimated despatch time for returning applications can therefore fluctuate, depending upon variations of these factors.
	In recent months, and due to a combination of these factors, checks undertaken by Essex Constabulary have been taking longer to complete and a backlog of cases has built up.
	Although this work is the responsibility of the constabulary, the CRB has been working closely with them to manage the backlog of cases and to minimise any disruption and inconvenience to Disclosure applicants.
	The CRB has in fact seconded a number of its staff in recent months to Essex and will shortly be sending more staff to help clear the outstanding work. This work is expected to be finished during the next two-three months and the backlog eliminated.

Departmental Annual Report

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the production of his Department's latest annual report cost; how many copies were printed; how many copies of it were sold at its cover price; to whom copies of the report have been provided free of charge; and how many copies were provided free of charge.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Home Office Departmental Report 2004 (Cm 6208) is the main vehicle by which the Home Office explains its aims and performance for 2003–04, and how it organised itself to deliver. As such it plays an important part in maintaining accountability to both Parliament and the public. It also provides key external stakeholders with an overview of the Department's activities as a whole.
	In order to ensure transparency, the report is structured around our key aims and the key PSA targets and other priorities that underpin these.
	The report's publication was handled by the Stationery Office Ltd. (TSO). Under the terms of the contract with TSO that company generally meets the costs of printing and publication and uses its commercial judgement as to the number of copies which it prints and the sale price.
	The direct costs of production borne by the Home Office and the printing costs of those copies ordered by the Department came to £65,282 excluding VAT and £72,210 including VAT. This excludes the costs of staff time within the Department, obtaining estimates of which would involve disproportionate cost. 1,150 copies were purchased by the Department for distribution within its headquarters (to directors, board members and on request to other members of the Senior Civil Service) and to senior managers in key delivery partners such as probation areas, police forces, and Government offices. Copies were also made available to Parliament and the press. The report is also available without charge on the Department's website.

Departmental Staff

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have left employment in his Department because of (a) anxiety, (b) stress, (c) depression and (d) other mental health reasons in each year since 1997.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Home Office does not record the reasons for employees leaving employment in the level of detail requested.
	However, since 2003 the Home Office has operated a voluntary exit survey which indicates that seven staff have stated stress as their reason for leaving the Department in 2003 and (to date) four staff in 2004.
	The Department is legally obliged to providing a safe working environment for employees and has a number of initiatives in place to reduce work related stress, including return to work interviews and managing sick absence by line managers and stress seminar and workshops run by the Home Office Health and Welfare Service.

Domestic Violence

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what policies are in place to tackle female-on-male domestic violence.

Des Browne: The 2001 British Crime Survey's Inter-Personal Violence Module shows that one in four women and one in six men have suffered domestic violence at some point in their lives, though women form the overwhelming majority of those subject to the heaviest abuse in terms of frequency, range of violence and severity of injury. The Government's definition of domestic violence is clear that domestic violence can occur regardless of gender or sexuality and the important measures in the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill will protect both male and female victims.

Domestic Violence

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the procedure is for women to press charges against their male partners in cases of domestic violence.

Des Browne: holding answer 22 July 2004
	A decision on whether or not to proceed with a case and press charges is a matter for the CPS, having received a file of evidence from the police. Decisions will be made on the appropriate level of charge once the two tests in the code for Crown Prosecutors have been passed. These are firstly whether there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction, and secondly that of the public interest. Victims' views are taken into consideration as part of the public interest test. The two tests must be passed before any criminal case can proceed. The procedure is the same regardless of gender or sexuality.

Drug Rape

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the recommendations of the Sturman Report on drug rape published in June 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 6 July 2004, Official Report, column 202W.

Drug Testing and Treatment

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drug testing and treatment orders were issued in Gloucestershire in each month since the scheme's inception.

Caroline Flint: The drug treatment and testing order (DTTO) was piloted in Gloucestershire, Liverpool and Croydon between October 1998 and March 2000. The number of DTTOs made in Gloucestershire in each month during the pilot phase, including April to September 2000 during which the pilots were allowed to continue post-evaluation until the order was rolled-out, was:
	
		
			 Month/year DTTO commencements 
		
		
			 1998  
			 October 0 
			 November 0 
			 December 0 
			 1999  
			 January 4 
			 February 7 
			 March 9 
			 April 8 
			 May 6 
			 June 6 
			 July 10 
			 August 17 
			 September 4 
			 October 3 
			 November 6 
			 December 5 
			 2000  
			 January 6 
			 February 5 
			 March 4 
			   
			 Post evaluation  
			 April 3 
			 May 4 
			 June 7 
			 July 5 
			 August 6 
			 September 3 
		
	
	The number of DTTOs made in Gloucestershire in each month following roll-out of the order across England and Wales on 1 October 2000 is:
	
		
			 Month/year DTTO commencements 
		
		
			 2000  
			 October 7 
			 November 6 
			 December 1 
			 2001  
			 January 5 
			 February 1 
			 March 4 
			 April 3 
			 May 4 
			 June 5 
			 July 2 
			 August 3 
			 September 1 
			 October 6 
			 November 6 
			 December 7 
			 2002  
			 January 3 
			 February 8 
			 March 4 
			 April 5 
			 May 5 
			 June 5 
			 July 3 
			 August 3 
			 September 4 
			 October 5 
			 November 3 
			 December 7 
			 2003  
			 January 4 
			 February 3 
			 March 2 
			 April 4 
			 May 1 
			 June 3 
			 July 2 
			 August 6 
			 September 3 
			 October 9 
			 November 3 
			 December 4 
			 2004  
			 January 6 
			 February 9 
			 March 8 
			 April 4 
			 May 7

Drugs (Prisons and Probation Service)

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will define best value in respect of the provision of drug services for prisons and probation services in England and Wales.

Paul Goggins: The Prison Service assesses the delivery of service against the specifications for each type of intervention. There are a number of ways "best value" can be judged, which include the effectiveness, accessibility, impact on reoffending and cost efficiency of drug services.
	In England, the Probation Service does not directly commission drug services in relation to community Drug Treatment and Testing Orders (DTTOs). Drug Action Teams (DATs) in the community contract local treatment providers to deliver the required treatment.

Drugs (Prisons and Probation Service)

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders in (a) jail and (b) the community have been dealt with by the major drug agencies which have contracts with the prisons and probation services in the latest year for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: The total number of prisoners for 2003–04 entering each type of drug treatment service where the service was delivered partly or solely by an external drug agency is given in the table.
	
		Prison entrants into drug treatment services provided, at least in part, by external agencies 2003–04
		
			 Entrants onto clinical services(58) CARATs(59) initial assessments Drug treatment programmes entrants 
		
		
			 4,386 51,080 3,076 
		
	
	(58) This does not include clinical services provided through Primary Care Trusts
	(59) Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare Service
	In England, the Probation Service does not directly commission drug services. Drug Action Teams (DATs) in the community contract local treatment providers to deliver the required treatment. Information on the extent of involvement of major drug agencies is not available centrally.

Dungavel Removal Centre

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to expand Dungavel Removal Centre.

Des Browne: On 16 March 2004 we announced publicly the decision to create a new building on the Dungavel site designed to hold up to 44 single males which will achieve the capacity of 194 places. In February 2004, work on the construction of that new building began and is now nearing completion. We expect this to be operational during August.
	There are no plans to increase the capacity of Dungavel beyond 194 places.

Either-way Cases

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of the proportion of contested cases triable either-way in the magistrates court that resulted in acquittal in (a) the Crown courts and (b) magistrates courts in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: Information collected centrally by the Home Office does not contain details on defendants' plea at magistrates courts (nor therefore data on the number of contested cases).
	The available information contained in the table provides figures for the number of defendants who pleaded "not guilty" to a triable either-way offence (where that offence was the principal offence) at the Crown court, and the number who were acquitted, in England and Wales, for the years 1998 to 2002.
	Statistics on court proceedings for 2003 will be published in the autumn.
	
		Number of defendants(60) who pleaded "not guilty"(61) at the Crown court, who were acquitted(62) for triable either-way only offences, England and Wales 1998 to 2002
		
			  Number of defendants who pleaded not guilty Number of defendants who pleaded not guilty who were acquitted Proportion of defendants pleading not guilty who were acquitted (Percentage) 
		
		
			 1998 21,501 12,578 58 
			 1999 21,324 12,847 60 
			 2000 21,493 13,477 63 
			 2001 20,863 13,230 63 
			 2002 19,076 11,771 62 
		
	
	1 Table excludes the figures of those defendants who pleaded "not guilty" who were not tried.
	2 Not guilty plea to the principal offence.
	3 Acquitted—includes, not guilty, no evidence offered, charge withdrawn, judge rules no case to answer.

Electoral Fraud

Tony Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) arrests and (b) convictions for electoral fraud there have been in each of the last four years.

Paul Goggins: Arrest data are not collected centrally at the level of detail requested.
	The information collected centrally by the Home Office is limited to various fraud related offences under the Representation of the People Act 1983 and is shown in the table. Similar offences, under other fraud and forgery provisions, cannot be separately identified.
	
		Offenders(60)found guilty at all courts of various fraud related offences under the Representation of the People Act 1983, England and Wales 1999 to 2002 -- Offence description: Tampering with nomination and ballot papers etc., making false declarations as to election expenses, bribery, treating, undue influence and personation offences
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1999 5 
			 2000 1 
			 2001 10 
			 2002 1 
		
	
	(60) These data are on the principal offence basis.

Highly Skilled Migrants Programme

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications have been (a) made and (b) accepted for the Highly Skilled Migrants Programme, broken down by (i) the top 20 nationalities and (ii) occupation, since the inception of the programme.

Des Browne: I regret that a full breakdown of the information requested is not readily available in the format requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	However, we are able to provide a breakdown of the number of applications received and approved by the top 10 nationalities up to the 23 June 2004. They are as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Applications Received  
			 India 4,798 
			 Pakistan 2,840 
			 Nigeria 1,570 
			 United States of America 1,448 
			 South Africa 1,176 
			 Australia 1,173 
			 China 712 
			 New Zealand 539 
			 Zimbabwe 395 
			 Russian Federation 332 
			   
			 Applications Approved  
			 India 1,569 
			 United States of America 1,094 
			 South Africa 686 
			 Pakistan 639 
			 Australia 588 
			 Nigeria 377 
			 China 273 
			 New Zealand 266 
			 Canada 198 
			 Russian Federation 179

Fear of Crime

Ivan Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of fear of crime among the people of the Harwich constituency.

Hazel Blears: Tendring's Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership and Tendring district council (which includes the Harwich constituency) both conduct surveys, which include an assessment of fear of crime. The partnership and council are in the process of completing the next surveys and the results will be available in August/September this year.

Home Detention Curfew Scheme

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juveniles have been released from prison under the Home Detention Curfew Scheme sinces its inception; and how many offences have been committed by juveniles released under the Home Detention Curfew Scheme since its inception.

Paul Goggins: One hundred and twenty one juveniles, aged under 18, have been released on Home Detention Curfew since eligibility for the scheme was extended to juveniles under the age of 18 on 14 July 2003. Of those released from custody, 12 have been reported as having been cautioned, convicted or awaiting prosecution for committing 19 offences during the period they were subject to the scheme.

Identity Cards

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had on the introduction of identity cards; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: holding answer 5 July 2004
	We are involved in a wide range of discussions across Government and with key stakeholders. In addition to the evidence, my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary and I gave to the Home Affairs Select Committee on identity cards, he has discussed this matter at meetings he attended on smartcard technology at Sheffield Council and with representatives of the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

Identity Cards

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of the impact identity cards will have on the relationship between the citizen and the state.

Des Browne: The identity cards scheme will not change the relationship between the citizen and the state. The scheme is about helping people safeguard identity, protecting citizens from illegal migration and working, organised crime and terrorism, identity theft and unauthorised access to public services. The introduction of identity cards is one of a range of steps the Government are taking to meet these challenges.

Illegal Immigrants

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate he has made of the number of illegal immigrants who have entered the UK concealed in lorries.

Des Browne: There is no official estimate of the number of clandestine entrants to the UK.
	Illegal entry action is initiated against those people who are detected having entered or attempting to enter the country clandestinely or by means of deception, either verbal or documentary.
	The available figures include those people who were identified as having entered the country clandestinely, they are not separately identifiable as such information would be available only by examination of individual case-files at disproportionate cost.
	The Immigration Service has deployed a range of initiatives to deter and detect illegal entry to the UK including moving controls overseas, enhancing juxtaposed controls in Paris, Lille and Calais, deploying New Detection Technology in France and Belgium, the Airline Liaison Officer Network, visa regimes and close co-operation with carriers, port authorities and our ED colleagues. These measures successfully prevented over 9,000 people reaching the UK from France during 2003.

Immigration

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his officials at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate will resolve the immigration status of constituents of the hon. Member for Vauxhall, reference numbers (a) O164833 and (b) O150701.

Des Browne: The information is as follows:
	O164833 has raised human rights issues and these will be considered by an Immigration and Nationality Directorate caseworker as a matter of priority.
	O150701 was forwarded to the Immigration Appellate Authority on 9 July. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for August and a substantive appeal hearing will take place on 9 September.

Immigration Detention (Electronic Monitoring)

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what conditions individuals seeking asylum will be required to wear an electronic tagging device; and what sanctions will be imposed for failure to comply with such a condition.

Des Browne: Section 36 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc) Act 2004 will allow for electronic monitoring of those aged 18 years and over who are liable to detention under immigration legislation and will be used as an alternative to detention.
	Individuals who are liable to detention may be required to wear an electronic tagging device if a Chief Immigration Officer, adjudicator or judge of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission considers, following an individual risk assessment, that the risk of absconding can be managed through the additional safeguard of electronic monitoring by tagging.
	Tagging involves wearing a bracelet similar to a wristwatch, which emits a signal to a receiver at the subject's home address to confirm that they are complying with a residence restriction.
	The consent of the individual will be required in order for an electronic monitoring provision to be applied. This is intended to ensure that the subject complies with the necessary practical arrangements for monitoring specified by the person imposing the requirement.
	Failure to comply with an electronic monitoring condition (for example through tampering with the equipment or failing to be at the specified address during the specified period) will be treated as a failure to comply with a residence or reporting requirement attached as a condition of immigration bail, temporary release or temporary admission. Sanctions available include detention and/or prosecution under immigration legislation with a penalty of up to £5,000 or six months imprisonment.

Immigration Detention (Electronic Monitoring)

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on trials for electronic tagging of asylum seekers in Scotland.

Des Browne: Section 36 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc.) Act 2004 will allow for the electronic monitoring of those aged 18 years and over who are liable to detention under immigration legislation and will be used as an alternative to detention.
	Electronic monitoring may be applied where it is felt that the risk of absconding can be managed with this additional safeguard, and an individual risk assessment will be conducted in each case.
	A pilot is planned for the autumn in England, Wales and Scotland. The pilot will encompass a total of 200 people for voice recognition and up to 50 people for tagging (including up to 10 on satellite tracking). Numbers will be divided between the three contractors operating under the existing Home Office contract for England and Wales, and an interim contractor in Scotland. Satellite tracking is currently only available in a limited number of locations in England and will therefore not be applied in Scotland or Wales at present.

Immigration Detention (Electronic Monitoring)

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the likely impact on asylum detention centres of the electronic tagging of those seeking asylum in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: Electronic monitoring will be applied where it is felt that the risk of absconding can be managed with this additional safeguard. An individual risk assessment will be conducted in each case and I am not therefore able to estimate at this stage how many of the individuals held in immigration detention centres will apply to be released with such a condition, nor how many would be considered suitable. A pilot planned for the autumn should help inform the position.

Immigration Detention (Electronic Monitoring)

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to pilot a programme of tagging by electronic means those seeking asylum in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: Clause 36 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc.) Bill will allow for the electronic monitoring of those aged 18 years and over who are liable to detention under Immigration legislation.
	Electronic Monitoring may be applied where it is felt that the risk of absconding can be managed with this additional safeguard, and an individual risk assessment will be conducted in each case. A pilot is planned for the autumn in England, Wales and Scotland. The pilot will encompass a total of 200 people for voice recognition and up to 50 people for tagging (including up to ten on satellite tracking). Numbers will be divided between the three contractors operating under the existing Home Office contract for England and Wales, and an interim contractor in Scotland. Satellite tracking is currently only available in a limited number of locations in England and will therefore not be applied in Scotland or Wales at present.

Immigration Detention (Electronic Monitoring)

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his plans are in relation to the numbers of those being detained at the Yarl's Wood Detention Centre over the next (a) six, (b) 12 and (c) 18 months; what assessment he has made of the likely impact on these numbers of his proposals in relation to the electronic tagging of those seeking asylum in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: Our plans are to increase the number of detainee's at the Yarl's Wood Removal Centre from 60 at present to 120 in September 2004 and 407 in January 2005 when building work is completed.
	Electronic monitoring will be applied where it is felt that the risk of absconding can be managed with this additional safeguard and an individual risk assessment will be conducted in each case. I am not therefore able to estimate how many of the individuals held at Yarl's Wood Removal Centre will apply to be released with such a condition, nor how many would be considered suitable.

Immigration Detention (Electronic Monitoring)

Patrick Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people liable to detention under the Immigration Acts he is planning to include in the electronic monitoring pilot his Department is launching this autumn; how many he estimates will at the time be held at the Yarl's Wood Removal Centre; whether he plans to include (a) men, (b) women and (c) children among those he is planning to include in the pilot; how many he estimates will be subject to (i) tagging, (ii) satellite tracking and (iii) voice recognition; how he is planning to monitor the progress of the pilot; when he expects to evaluate the outcome; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: holding answer 22 July 2004
	Section 36 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc) Act 2004 will allow for electronic monitoring of those aged 18 years and over who are liable to detention under immigration legislation and will be used as an alternative to detention.
	The pilot to test the effectiveness of electronic monitoring in an immigration context will include 200 individuals for voice recognition and up to 50 people for tagging (10 of whom may be subject to satellite tracking).
	Electronic monitoring will be applied where it is felt that the risk of absconding can be managed with this additional safeguard and an individual risk assessment will be conducted in each case. Therefore, it is not possible to estimate how many of the individuals held at Yarl's Wood detention centre will apply to be released with such a condition, nor how many would be considered suitable.
	Electronic monitoring may be applied only to men and women of 18 years of age and over. Therefore no children will be included in the pilot.
	Evaluation of the pilot will commence after a three-month period.

Immigration Detention Facilities

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the expected date is of (a) decommissioning and (b) closure of the immigration detention facility at Oakington, Cambridgeshire.

Des Browne: South Cambridgeshire district council is considering a planning notification to extend the use of Oakington until the end of 2006, when it is expected that the site will close. Decisions on decommissioning have yet to be finalised.

Immigration Detention Facilities

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many detention places he expects to be available for immigration control purposes over the next three years; where they will be; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: We expect to have around 2,800 places available for immigration control purposes by January 2005. From January 2007 this number will fall to around 2,500 places which will be located at Campsfield House (292 spaces), Colnbrook (326 spaces) Dover (316 spaces), Dungavel (194 spaces), Harmondsworth (551 spaces), Haslar (160 spaces), Lindholme (112 spaces), Tinsley House (150 spaces), Yarl's Wood (407 spaces).

Immigration Detention Facilities

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his long-term plans are for the Yarl's Wood Detention Centre; and whether these include housing those detained prior to deportation.

Des Browne: There are currently no plans to develop the site at Yarl's Wood further. Some of those held there may be awaiting deportation.

Insurance Cover

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made towards the implementation of an action plan based on the report of the Insurance Cover Working Group entitled "Research into Insurance Cover for the VCS in England"; and when it will be completed.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 29 June 2004
	On Friday 16 July 2004 the Home Office published a paper responding to the suggestions made by independent consultants in their report "Research into Insurance Cover for the VCS in England", which was commissioned by the Home Office Insurance Cover Working Group (ICWG).
	The paper outlines the practical action that is and has been taken across Government to address the challenges facing voluntary and community organisations in obtaining insurance cover for their activities.
	Five action points have been agreed between the insurance industry, the voluntary and community sector (VCS) and Government:
	1. The Home Office Minister responsible for communities will champion the cause of insurance for the voluntary and community sector.
	2. Government work on employers' liability insurance, legal costs and full cost recovery, will be taken forward by The Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Constitutional Affairs and the Home Office Active Communities Directorate, ensuring that the interests of the voluntary and community sector are taken into account.
	3. Sources of practical advice and expertise on the required needs of the insurance industry will be brought together by providing access to relevant information on the Home Office, Association of British Insurers, and various voluntary and community sector organisation's websites, in order to increase the capacity of the sector to deal with insurance issues.
	4. Better practical arrangements for working with local government will be investigated by the Home Office, working with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Local Government Association.
	5. There will be an on-going dialogue between the voluntary and community sector, the insurance industry and government, facilitated by the Home Office through the Insurance Cover Working Group (ICWG) meeting to discuss progress and on-going issues, as appropriate.
	Implementation of the plan has already started and will continue over the coming months as parcels of work are completed. The ICWG will be an "honest broker" between the VCS, the insurance industry and other key players, highlighting and discussing specific issues of concern to the VCS. I will champion this insurance issue for the VCS.
	The actions we are taking are practical measures to empower the VCS. For example, by encouraging greater understanding of the issues facing the VCS within the insurance industry, by facilitating greater dialogue, encouraging the principle of "full cost recovery" across Government and providing better and more accessible information regarding such things as risk management/bulk purchasing schemes/and basic details to do with the provision of insurance cover, all adding up to practical help for the VCS. However, these are just the first steps in an area where there can be no overnight changes. Therefore, the Government and their partners are committed to making a difference over the long term.
	In tandem with this longer term commitment, I have now set in motion a process for the delivery of a policy framework designed to address the increasing insurance burden and other concerns in the voluntary and community sector, particularly those parts of the sector that undertake activities with a greater element of risk. From this process we expect guidance to emerge on risk and its management as well as the development of a document similar to "Making the Market Work", an initiative the Association of British Insurers (ABI) developed for the assessment of Trade Associations Health and Safety schemes.
	This work will undoubtedly draw on the Working Group's report and benefit from the group's input. Copies of the paper "Programme of Action", can be viewed and downloaded from the Home Office website: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/comrace/active/developing/ icwg.html.

Means-tested Benefits

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the means-tested benefits available through the Department and the agencies for which it is responsible (a) in May 1997 and (b) now.

Des Browne: The Home Office was not responsible for any means tested benefits in 1997.
	Since 3 April 2000 the Home Office has been responsible for administering the support available to destitute asylum seekers under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

Money Laundering Offences

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deposit-taking institutions reported possible money laundering offences to the National Criminal Intelligence Service in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003; and what proportion of the total disclosures and reports were made by the top 10 sources of such reports in each year.

Caroline Flint: The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 imposes an obligation upon individuals and business in the regulated sector undertaking relevant business such as accepting deposits, to make disclosures to the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) where they have knowledge, suspicion or reasonable grounds to know or suspect that another person is engaged in money laundering. These disclosures are commonly known as Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs).
	The information requested, based on disclosures input on to the NCIS database, is set out in the table.
	
		
			  2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Total Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) from deposit taking banks 19,355 36,694 63,601 
			 Percentage of above SARs from top 10 bank sources 82.29 91.57 90.38 
			 
			 Total SARs from building societies 2,294 3,704 5,210 
			 Percentage of above SARs from top 10 building society sources 74.28 66.79 66.55 
			 
			 Total SARs from deposit takers 21,649 40,398 68,811 
			 Percentage of above SARs from top 10 deposit taking sources 79.56 83.61 83.76

National Offender Management Service

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will have statutory responsibility for prisoners' families under the National Offender Management Service arrangements.

Paul Goggins: The Prison Service will continue to have responsibility for making arrangements for offenders to maintain meaningful links with their families and vice versa. Maintaining family support will be a specific objective build into the induction phase of the offender management process for offenders received into custody. The Reducing Re-offending National Action Plan published on 19 July recognises that the families and children of offenders are a vulnerable group and sets out a specific workstream to take forward work to further develop support arrangements.

National Offender Management Service

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements have been made to ensure that the National Offender Management Service will have an approved Welsh language scheme from its first day of operation.

Paul Goggins: The National Offender Management Service will build on the existing Welsh language schemes within the Prison and Probation Service in accordance with the requirements of the Welsh Language Act 1993.

National Offender Management Service

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the relevant trade unions will register disputes under the National Offender Management Service arrangements.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 7 July 2004
	Trade unions will continue to register disputes with the employing body. In the case of Prison Officers represented by the POA this will be the Prison Service, with existing procedures remaining in place. The unions recognised by the National Probation Service (Napo, UNISON and GMB-Scoop) will continue, as under existing procedures, to register a dispute with an individual Probation Board.

National Offender Management Service

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when details of governance arrangements for the National Offender Management Service will be published.

Paul Goggins: On 20 July 2004 I made a statement on the National Offender Management Service which outlines the way I intend to introduce the new single service. The statement includes some additional details of governance arrangements. I will make available further clarification of governance arrangements as the service develops.

National Offender Management Service

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of the impact of the introduction of the National Offender Management Service on the input of the voluntary sector to the criminal justice system.

Paul Goggins: It is expected that the development of National Offender Management Service (NOMS) will open up new opportunities for the involvement of voluntary organisations as a provider of services. The National Offender Management Service is preparing a strategic review of existing and future relationships with the voluntary and community sector. A draft strategy will be circulated for consultation in the autumn.

National Offender Management Service

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many consultees responded to the recent consultation document on the National Offender Management Scheme.

Paul Goggins: The Home Office has received 177 responses to the consultation paper on the National Offender Management Service's organisational design.

National Offender Management Service

Denzil Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of the efficiency savings that will be achieved by establishing the proposed National Offender Management Service.

Paul Goggins: The establishment of the National Offender Management Service will lead to efficiency savings through the better targeting of interventions and an increase in the number of completed orders. Substantial savings will also be made by combining HQ functions which in turn will contribute to the 20 per cent. overall reduction in Home Office HQ costs. In addition, over the spending review 2004 period we will continue a target of three per cent. efficiency savings across the services.

National Offender Management Service

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Home Office's equal opportunities policy was followed in respect of the appointment of the national offender manager for the National Offender Management Service.

Des Browne: Yes. The Home Office's equal opportunities policy is applied to all recruitment and appointment processes.

National Offender Management Service

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what structure will be put in place for joint working on public protection between the Probation Service and the police under the new National Offender Management Service structure.

Paul Goggins: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) will build upon the range of work probation boards undertaken at a local level. The significant contribution the multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) have made to public protection will form a key part of the core offender management function within the NOMS. Operationally MAPPA usually function at a local rather than area level and will continue to do so under the arrangements for NOMS. The multi-agency public protection panels, which oversee the management of the highest risk offenders, will continue to operate at whatever level is most appropriate—usually local, sometimes area but occasionally wider—to manage the risks posed by the individual offenders in question.

National Offender Management Service

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are employed in the National Offender Management Service Team, broken down by (a) grade and (b) function.

Paul Goggins: Currently the Prison Service has around 47,500 members of staff and the National Probation Service has around 19,000 full-time equivalent employees. The correctional services headquarters has around 400 staff.
	All of these employees now come under the ambit of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). However, as the NOMS senior management are currently developing proposals for the shape, size and structure of the new service it is not yet possible to provide details on the grade and function split of NOMS staff.

Neighbourhood Watch

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions have been given to police forces in England and Wales regarding the National Neighbourhood Watch Association.

Hazel Blears: Officials wrote to all Chief Constables on 25 May 2004 to set out the Home Office's position in relation to the National Neighbourhood Watch Association. This letter encouraged Chief Constables to continue to support Neighbourhood Watch in their force areas. No instructions were given.

Neighbourhood Watch

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on agreements for commercial sponsorship of the National Neighbourhood Watch Association.

Hazel Blears: The commercial sponsorship agreements of the National Neighbourhood Watch Association are a matter for the association and any sponsors.
	The Home Office generally has no interest in the commercial sponsorship deals of voluntary organisations. The only exception would be when the proposed deal involved the use of a public asset, for example the Neighbourhood Watch logo. In such a case the Home Office would act to ensure that the asset was used properly and that it continued to be publicly available.

Neighbourhood Watch

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence his Department provided to the Direct Line Insurance Company in 2002 that it (a) had designed and (b) owned the artwork for the Neighbourhood Watch logo.

Hazel Blears: The Neighbourhood Watch logo was designed by the Central Office of Information in 1985 on behalf of the Home Office, it is therefore Crown Copyright.
	The Home Office is unaware of providing evidence that this was the case to the Direct Line insurance company in 2002.

Neighbourhood Watch

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department will provide a loan to the National Neighbourhood Watch Association.

Hazel Blears: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I have decided not to give further funding to the National Neighbourhood Watch Association on the basis of a financial audit which was undertaken earlier this year. Under these circumstances it would be inappropriate for us to provide them with a loan.

Nuclear Terrorism

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the time commitment entered into by participating members of the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre is devoted to nuclear terrorism threats.

Hazel Blears: It is not possible to give a precise figure. The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) analytical effort devoted specifically to nuclear threats is variable, proportionate to the number and credibility of such threats.

Obscene Publications Acts

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to amend the Obscene Publications Acts 1959 and 1964.

Des Browne: holding answer 20 July 2004
	We are concerned about the availability of obscene material, particularly on the internet. We are currently considering whether the law governing obscene publications should be strengthened. This issue was debated in the Adjournment debate on 18 May, which was obtained by my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Mr. Lepper).

Obscene Websites

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans there are for meetings to be held between Ministers, credit card companies and collection agents to discuss ways of limiting access to obscene websites.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 19 July 2004
	The Home Office has been working closely with the Association for Payment Clearing Services, (APACS) who have a clear policy that acquiring banks routinely monitor the transaction activity of their internet merchants, and that they will not knowingly do business with sites that sell content inciting, advocating or perpetuating violence against persons, including scenes of sexual assault. APACS have also been developing a range of work with the Internet Watch Foundation to assist in tracking and identifying illegal sites.

Obscene Websites

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to encourage international co-operation and an international unified policy on obscene publications on the internet.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 19 July 2004
	International co-operation is essential if we are to have any impact on the availability of any particular kind of material on the internet. We have raised this matter in the United States, and are considering what scope there is for a wider initiative to influence other countries, and for specifically targeting those questions at the G8.

Offender Behaviour Programmes

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will list the accredited offender behaviour programmes available in each prison;
	(2)  how many places were available on each accredited offender behaviour programme in each prison in the last year for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 19 July 2004
	A table has been placed in the Library which gives information on the programmes available in each prison in the public and contracted sectors in 2003–04. We are not able to provide information in terms of the number of places, but have provided the number of accredited offending behaviour programmes completed by prisoners and the numbers of accredited drug programme starts in that year.

Offender Behaviour Programmes

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new offender behaviour programmes are being considered; who is developing them; and when each is expected to become accredited.

Paul Goggins: Since 2000 the National Probation Directorate and Her Majesty's Prison Service have successfully designed and gained accreditation for 15 probation and 10 prison offender behaviour programmes covering a comprehensive range of offender needs.
	Programmes for further work in connection with women's offending, domestic violence, drugs and sex offending will be submitted for accreditation at the Correctional Services Accreditation Panel in line with the schedule in the table.
	
		Offending behaviour programmes currently in development or awaiting accreditation
		
			 Programme Status Expected accreditation date Lead responsibility for development 
		
		
			 A booster module for the accredited violence programmes Designed by the Canadian Technica Software Corporation. Implementation of this programme has been delayed due to resource limitations. A review of resources for the financial year 2005–06 will determine whether this is to be rolled out. If so, a submission to CSAP will be made. 2005–06 (see note, left) NPS 
			 The second Domestic Violence programme (CDVP) Designed by the Correctional Services Canada and is also accredited for use by HMPS for those offenders in custody. It is currently being piloted in NPS areas. March 2005 NPSNPS 
			 A community version of the prison adapted sex offender treatment programme Development of this programme will be subject to resources. Provisionally October 2005 NPS 
			 A sex offender one to one internet offenders programme Developed by NPS it has been piloted. Provisionally October 2005 NPS 
			 Healthy sexual functioning To complement an existing sex offender programme. Currently being piloted. A community version of HMPS Healthy Sexual Functioning (HSF) will be adapted when resources permit. October 2004 HMPS/NPS 
			 JETS Juvenile Enhanced Thinking Skills October 2004 HMPS 
			 Programme for violent psychopathic offenders A complex intervention, across a number of modules, which aims to reduce recidivism in high risk, violent offenders who have high levels of psychopathy. The programme emphasises the need for staff training and support, integration of treatment across the wider regime and progression and resettlement. Currently being piloted in the DSPD units at HMP Frankland and Rampton High Security Hospital. February 2005 HMPS 
			 C.A.R.E a multi-modal intervention for women in custody Choices, Actions, Relationships and Emotions. In development, to be piloted later in 2004. The programme is being developed by Offending Behaviour Programmes Unit in partnership with the Women's Team. It targets medium to high risk women with multiple needs and who have been convicted for violent or substance-related offences. At this stage it is only likely to be available for women in custody. 2005 HMPS/NPS 
			 FOR Focus on Resettlement—short pre-release motivational programme 2005 HMPS/NPS 
			 Short duration programme for substance abusers The programme is being developed by the Prison Service Drug Strategy Unit (DSU) November 2004 HMPS 
			 Prisons-Addressing Substance Related Offending PASRO/Action on Drugs The newly formed Women's Team has responsibility to develop intensive drug treatment programmes for women in custody. The team intends to modify and develop two programmes, which are already accredited for men and are currently being piloted in women's prisons—PASRO and "Action on Drugs". P-ASRO (For Women) March 2006 HMPS

Parliamentary Questions

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the question tabled by the hon. Member for Batley and Spen on 19 April, reference 167051, on police sickness reduction schemes.

Hazel Blears: I replied to my hon. Friend on 20 July 2004, Official Report, column 223W.

Passport Checks

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what comparative studies he has conducted as to the time taken for (a) EU and (b) non-EU passengers to complete immigration formalities in the airports of EU capital cities.

Des Browne: No comparative studies have been undertaken on the time taken for EU and non-EU passengers to complete immigration formalities in the airports of EU capital cities.

Passport Checks

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he sets service standards that the Immigration Service should seek to process foreign nationals (a) more slowly, (b) more quickly or (c) at the same speed as those arriving at Heathrow from other EU countries.

Des Browne: The UK Immigration Service is committed to clearing bona fide passengers with minimal delay, and has set standards for passenger processing times, which comply with international standards previously adopted. These standards are embedded in the UK Immigration Service's annual business objectives, and are kept under regular review.
	The standards are to clear:
	90 per cent. of non-EEA passengers in 30 minutes and all such passengers within 45 minutes
	EEA passengers with minimal delay.

Passports (Over-75s)

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will implement his proposal announced on 19 May to make passports available free of charge for people over the age of 75 years.

Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Wrexham (Ian Lucas) on 23 June 2004, Official Report, column 1421W.

Police

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received about the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 removing the exemption for police officers from jury service.

Hazel Blears: We have had a number of recent discussions with police representatives in relation to the new jury service provisions which were introduced by the Criminal Justice Act 2003. We will be working with the police to provide appropriate guidance to police officers and civilian police staff who are called upon for jury service.

Police

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage change there has been in the number of police officers in each year since 1997 in (a) Leicester, (b) Leicestershire and (c) England.

Hazel Blears: Information on the strength for the Leicestershire Constabulary and for England for each year since 1997 is set out in Table 1. Information on strength at Basic Command Unit (BCU) level is collected annually and reflects the position at the end of March. Information on BCU strength is only available from 2002 and is set out in Table 2.
	Leicestershire Constabulary restructured its BCUs in 2002–03 resulting in a reduction from five to four BCUs by 31 March 2003. Table 2 therefore sets out strength for each BCU. Overall BCU strength increased between March 2002 and March 2003 by 1.2 per cent. (from 1,555 to 1,574 officers). BCU numbers for March 2004 will be published later in the year. The deployment of officers to BCUs is a matter for the Chief Constable (Matthew Baggott) and within each BCU deployment of officers is a matter for the Divisional Commander.
	
		Table 1: Police strength—(a) Leicestershire Constabulary 1997 to 2004, (b) England 1997 to 2004
		
			  Police strength(61) Percentage change 
		
		
			 (a) Leicestershire police strength: 1997–2004 
			 31 March 1997 1,949  
			 31 March 1998 1,983 +1.7 
			 31 March 1999 1,993 +0.5 
			 31 March 2000 1,993 — 
			 31 March 2001 2,033 +2.0 
			 31 March 2002 2,100 +3.3 
			 31 March 2003 2,114 +0.7 
			 31 May 2004 2,264 +7.1 
			
			 (b) Police strength: England 1997–2004 
			 31 March 1997 118,459  
			 31 March 1998 118,139 -0.3 
			 31 March 1999 117,195 -0.8 
			 31 March 2000 115,324 -1.6 
			 31 March 2001 116,440 + 1.0 
			 31 March 2002 120,073 +3.1 
			 31 March 2003 124,158 +3.4 
			 31 May 2004 130,272 +4.9 
		
	
	(61) Source for 1997 to March 2003 is the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate (RDS). May 2004 was collected separately outside of the normal data collection arrangements and has not been subject to the same validation as RDS data. All figures are full-time equivalents.
	
		Table 2: Basic Command Unit strength—Leicestershire Constabulary
		
			 Basic Command Unit March 2002 March 2003 
		
		
			 Central 325.7 415 
			 East 305.5 399 
			 North 279.4 354 
			 South 291.8 — 
			 West 352.5 406 
		
	
	Note:
	All figures are full-time equivalents.

Police

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has issued to the police on the definition of conducting a search of premises immediately after a suspect has emerged, in relation to section 32 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

Hazel Blears: None apart from paragraph 4.2 of Code B of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE), Codes of Practice. Paragraph 6 of Code B covers general considerations on searches.

Police

Ivan Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes there have been in police numbers in (a) the Harwich constituency, (b) Tendring district and (c) Essex since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The table sets out police strength in Essex since March 1997. Information on the number of officers within Basic Command Units has only been collected from March 2002. It is not possible to identify the number of officers at constituency level. The deployment of officers to Divisions is a matter for the Chief Constable (David Stevens) and within the D (Tendring) Division deployment of officers is a matter for the Divisional Commander.
	
		
			  Officer strength 
			  Essex police(62) D (Tendering) Division 
		
		
			 31 March 1997 2,961 — 
			 31 March 1998 2,928 — 
			 31 March 1999 2,891 — 
			 31 March 2000 2,806 — 
			 31 March 2001 2,887 — 
			 31 March 2002 2,946 178.2 
			 31 March 2003 3,007 169 
			 31 May 2004 3,130 Not available(63) 
		
	
	(62) Source for 1997 to March 2003 is the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate (RDS). May 2004 was collected separately outside of the normal data collection arrangements and has not been subject to the same validation as RDS data.
	(63) Basic Command Unit data for 31 March 2004 will be published later in the year.

Police

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables there are in (a) the Thames Valley Police Force and (b) Oxfordshire; and how many there were in (i) 2001 and (ii) 1997.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 22 July 2004
	The latest published police service strength figures are contained in Home Office Statistical Bulletin 11/03 and are for the year ending 31 March 2003. Figures for March 2004 will be published later this year.
	The number of Special Constables in Thames Valley Police Force for the years requested are as follows:
	
		
			 As at 31 March Number 
		
		
			 2003 369 
			 2001 418 
			 1997 656 
		
	
	There are no separate statistics published for the number of Special Constables in Oxfordshire, which area forms part of the Thames Valley Police Force. Deployment of Specials within the Force area is a matter for the Chief Officer.

Police

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many measures are to be reported by the police under the 2004–05 Statutory Performance Indicators for policing; and how many were to be reported under (a) the 2003–04 Police Best Value Performance Indicator and (b) the Best Value Performance Indicator applicable to police authorities in previous years.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 19 July 2004
	Statutory Performance Indicators (SPIs) for 2004–05 were set by Statutory Instrument 2004/644 under the Local Government Act 1999. In previous years the 1999 Act was used to set "Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPIs)".
	Individual SPIs and BVPIs are based on one or more "component measures". The number of SPIs for 2004–05, plus the number of BVPIs set in previous years, is listed as follows together with an estimate of the number of component measures:
	In 2004–05 there were 13 indicators comprised of 36 measures;
	In 2003–04 there were 19 indicators comprised of 44 measures;
	In 2002–03 there were 21 indicators comprised of 48 measures;
	In 2001–02 there were 32 indicators comprised of 47 measures.

Prisons

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers, in full-time equivalent terms, were employed by the Prison Service on 31 March in each of the last five years; and what the planned number of officers was in each case.

Paul Goggins: The table shows the number of full-time equivalent officer grade staff employed since 1999 against the best available estimate of planned officer posts. The figures include prison officers, senior officers and principal officers.
	
		
			 As at 31 March Full-time equivalent officers Operational staffing requirement Forecast planned posts 
		
		
			 2004 23,952 24,709 — 
			 2003 23,332 — 24,147 
			 2002 22,881 — 23,666 
			 2001 23,672 — 23,901 
			 2000 24,020 — 24,158 
			 1999 23,831 — 23,876 
		
	
	The figures for the planned number of officer posts prior to 2004 are not an accurate reflection of the operational staffing requirement. These figures, based on forecast planned posts, included staff nominally identified for special units within prisons that were used infrequently and were staffed using additional supplementary hours from existing staff; and the staffing requirements for new accommodation that had not yet opened. The Prison Service introduced new arrangements for the collection of workforce data earlier this year to eliminate these anomalies and to reflect more accurately the operational staffing requirement. Before April 2001 the figures were collected as part of a general planning process and were not specifically designed for workforce planning purposes.
	A contract supplementary hours scheme has been in operation since April 2001, which allows governors to deploy existing staff on pre-arranged, additional hours contracts, to meet any shortfall in actual staffing availability. In April 2004 this scheme contributed the equivalent of 373 full-time officers. As a result, actual staffing availability at April 2004 (full-time equivalent staff in post plus the use of contracted supplementary hours) was (24,325) compared to the operational staffing requirement of (24,709). This represents a gap of 1.6 per cent, which the Director General considers to be an acceptable operating margin.
	Figures on the use of contract supplementary hours are not available prior to April 2004.

Prisons

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the effect of additional investment on delivery in prison and probation services since 1998.

Des Browne: In its Public Service Agreement, published in 2000, the Home Office committed itself to reducing by 2003–04 the proportion of offenders given prison or community sentences who are subsequently reconvicted by 5 per cent. compared to a 1997 baseline. The target was carried forward in the 2002 Public Service Agreement, with a new baseline of 2000. Latest published figures, for 1999, show that 3.2 per cent. fewer offenders were reconvicted than predicted. The Home Office also committed itself to maintaining the (then) current low number of escapes, including Category A escapes. There has been no escape of a Category A prisoner since 1995. The baseline for the total number of escapes in 1997–98 was 0.17 per cent. of the average prison population. The outcome for 2003–04 was 0.067 per cent.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2004, Official Report, column 1673W, on prisons, what moneys will be made available to (a) build and (b) manage the projected prison establishments.

Des Browne: holding answer 23 March 2004
	The Prison Service plans to ensure that its operating assets are fit for purpose. To that end, it seeks potential sites for new establishments, whether to expand capacity or as part of improving the mix of existing capacity. The business cases for acquisition of sites, for options for the construction of buildings and for future management of sites will be made within the constraints of resources that become available through the spending review process.

Prisons

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what minimum nutritional standards have been set for prison food.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 13 July 2004
	The requirements for Prison Service catering—for all types of establishment—are set out in the Prison Service Catering Manual (Prison Service Order 5000). Chapter 3 of the manual sets out the mandatory provisions required to produce nutritional meals. These include ensuring that:
	Catering management systems deliver a high standard of menus economically
	There is a multi-choice, pre-select menu that includes healthy options and reflects prisoners' preferences
	Prisons maintain high standards in the presentation and serving of food to prisoners
	There are regular independent inspections of food production and servery arrangements.
	All Prison Service establishments have the objective of offering a range of foods that enable prisoners to make healthy eating choices. All establishments must offer at least one lower fat/high fibre/lower sugar or lower salt item on each menu and there must be a clearly marked healthy eating option included on all menus. In particular prisons are required to offer a wide range of interesting fresh fruits, vegetables and salads. As well as being monitored during the cooking process nutrition is also monitored in food specifications via purchasing. Prison Service caterers are required to look objectively at menu selection and continually seek to modify their recipes, cooking methods and service towards more healthy guidelines.
	Catering staff are provided with training information and the skills required to produce healthy food—this includes guidelines on how to cook food so as to retain as high a range of vitamins and minerals as possible. The Prison Service runs nutrition training courses at intermediate level for prison caterers—these lead to a formal qualification from the Royal Institute of Public Health. Some establishments involve the local hospital dietician in their menu planning and some have obtained Healthy Eating Awards (Heartbeat) from their local authorities.
	Increasingly—and through a partnership between prisons catering, education and PE departments—the Prison Service is encouraging individual prisoners to eat more healthily by:
	Reduction of fat intake, especially saturated fats which are thought to raise cholesterol levels in the blood
	Promotion of starchy, fibre-rich foods such as wholemeal bread, potatoes, pasta and rice together with fruit and vegetables
	The reduction of sugar intake
	The avoidance of excessive salt.

Prisons

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 27 April 2004, Official Report, column 938W, on prisons, for what reasons his Department does not propose to extend this further to mirror the two-tier workforce provisions contained in the Local Government Code of Practice on Workforce Matters.

Des Browne: The Home Office complies fully with the policies that currently apply to central Government and agencies, including the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice "Staff Transfers in the Public Sector" and its annex "A Fair Deal for Staff Pensions".
	There are no immediate plans to mirror the local government arrangements but as we move forward with our reforms we will work with other Departments to further address the "two-tier" issue.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his Oral Answer to the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend, East (Sir Teddy Taylor) 12 July 2004, Official Report, column 1116, on prisons, what factors have contributed to prison operational capacity increasing by 500 places in recent months; and in which prison establishments these places are located.

Paul Goggins: The additional places referred to in my reply of 12 July to the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend, East (Sir Teddy Taylor) are the result of additional houseblocks which have opened at Her Majesty's Prison Wymott (180 places); Her Majesty's Young Offender Institution Swinfen Hall (120 places); Her Majesty's Prison Wealstun (180 places); and Her Majesty's Prison Winchester (40 places). In addition, a new prison, Her Majesty's Prison Bronzefield, opened in June 2004 and, as at 12 July, had 150 places available.
	At the same time some accommodation has been taken out of use for refurbishment.

Prisons

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many suicides of (a) men and (b) women there were in each London prison in each of the last five years.

Des Browne: The information requested is provided in the table.
	
		
			   Number of self-inflicted deaths(64) 
			 Establishment Gender 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Total 
		
		
			 Belmarsh Male 1 1 1 0 1 3 7 
			 Brixton Male 1 4 2 2 2 1 12 
			 Feltham Male 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 
			 Holloway Female 1 2 1 1 1 0 6 
			 Latchmere House Male 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Pentonville Male 0 1 1 3 1 0 6 
			 Wandsworth Male 2 0 7 1 2 3 15 
			 Wormwood Scrubs Male 0 1 1 1 1 1 5 
			 Total  5 9 14 9 8 8 53 
		
	
	(64) The Prison Service employs the term "self-inflicted death" rather than "suicide". This includes all those deaths where it appears the person may have acted specifically to take his/her own life.
	Tackling the number of self-inflicted deaths of prisoners is a key ministerial and Prison Service priority. Central to the suicide prevention strategy that I announced on 31 March is the need to reduce levels of distress in prisons and to promote the well being of all staff and prisoners. The strategy has strong support from partner agencies and external organisations, and is being developed in close partnership with the Department of Health. The developing strategy will link existing programmes and planned investment in five broad areas of work. These are:
	Regime, activities and care planning for all prisoners;
	Improved knowledge and outlooks of all staff at all levels;
	Meeting the special needs of the most vulnerable prisoners;
	Training and support for staff;
	Design solutions to minimise impulsive acts.

Prisons

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women prisoners were held in prisons in England and Wales on 1 July (a) 2004, (b) 2003, (c) 2002 and (d) 2001.

Des Browne: The number of female prisoners held in prison establishments in England and Wales on 30 June in each of the last four years is provided in the following table.
	
		Population of female prisoners England and Wales, 30 June
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2001 3,713 
			 2002 4,394 
			 2003 4,595 
			 2004 4,452

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the salary ranges are for prison custody officers at each privately run prison establishment.

Paul Goggins: The salary ranges for prison custody officers at each of the privately run prisons in England and Wales are shown in the table (as provided by each of the four contractors):
	
		£
		
			 Establishment Salary range Comment 
		
		
			 HMP and  YOI Ashfield 15,008–16,043 Attracts an additional £1,500 local economy allowance 
			 HMP Altcourse 14,758–16,773 — 
			 HMP Bronzefield 14,700–22,400 — 
			 HMP Doncaster 14,500–18,500 — 
			 HMP Dovegate 12,500–17,000 The maximum salary after two years service is £17,000 
			 HMP Forest Bank 14,700–22,400 — 
			 HMP Lowdham Grange 12,000–17,100 Salary after graduation £14,200 
			 HMP Pare 14,608–17,657 — 
			 HMP Rye Hill 14,758–15,893 — 
			 HMP Wolds 15,726–21,576 —

Prisons

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will (a) carry out an access audit of prisons and (b) develop a strategy for disabled prisoners.

Des Browne: The Prison Service is currently undertaking access audits across the prison estate to ensure that establishments are able to comply with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
	The Prison Service treats all prisoners as individuals and prisons are required to address all individual prisoner needs. However, Prison Service Order 2855 adds to this general duty of care and sets out mandatory requirements including that every establishment must ensure that they have a local policy to prevent discrimination on the grounds of disability and that each establishment should nominate an appropriate member of staff (Disability Liaison Officer) to act as a contact on matters concerning disability.

Pubwatch Scheme

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support the Government is providing to the national Pubwatch scheme in (a) England, (b) the North West and (c) Cheshire.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office does not provide direct financial support to Pubwatch schemes. But the Government welcomes the contribution that Pubwatch can make in helping to tackle alcohol-related violence and disorder. The Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England published on 15 March 2004 highlighted how solutions involving the industry such as Pubwatch can contribute to targeting the problem of alcohol related violence at source.

Re-offending

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his Department's strategy to reduce crimes committed by re-offenders.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 22 July 2004
	On 19 July, the Home Office published its strategic plan "Confident Communities in a Secure Britain", setting out how it will cut crime in the next five years, including its goal of reducing re-offending through the rehabilitation of offenders.
	Some of the key elements include:
	The development of a new strategy to target the most prolific offenders in our communities. Local areas have been asked to focus on the individuals who, in their judgement, are the most prolific, most persistently antisocial and who pose the greatest threat to the safety and confidence of their local communities. All local areas will be expected to have a scheme in place to tackle these offenders by 6 September 2004.
	More work with the parents of young offenders and greater use of supervised community programmes, including using electronic tagging and tracking.
	The parallel publication of a National Action Plan to reduce re-offending through greater strategic direction and collaborative working. Over 60 action points have been agreed across Government within the main areas to support the rehabilitation of offenders. A complementary approach is being developed in Wales.
	The Action Plan has been set within our proposals for improving the management of offenders, with the establishment of a National Offender Management Service, providing better targeted interventions and clearer accountability for reducing re-offending.
	Finally, because drug use contributes to an enormous proportion of re-offending, directing drug-using offenders into treatment is fundamental to our strategy. The development of through-care and after-care provisions are at the heart of the Criminal Justice Interventions Programme addressing the need and bridging the gap particularly for those drug misusing offenders leaving the criminal justice system and treatment.

Retail Crime

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of (a) the proportion of retail crime that was reported to the police and (b) the actual level of retail crime in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 22 July 2004
	The Business Crime Team within the Home Office is working with the police, retailers and the Research, Development and Statistics Directorate to enhance the information on business and retail crime. This work is on-going.
	Information on retail crime is available from the British Retail Consortium who publish an annual retail crime survey, which is a national and international commentary on retail crime.

Security Officers (Licensing)

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  for what reasons under the Private Security Industry Act 2001 a security officer pays a much higher sum for licences than the actual cost of the licensing and criminal record check;
	(2)  for what reasons under the Private Security Industry Act 2001 an individual private security officer will be required to pay for separate licences if during the course of his duties he patrols a shopping centre, monitors CCTV or applies a wheel clamp in a car park;
	(3)  for what reasons under the Private Security Industry Act 2001 licensing of the manned guarding sector of the security industry commences in January 2005 when compliance is not required until early 2006;
	(4)  for what reasons it was decided that in-house manned guarding teams should be exempt from licensing under the Private Security Industry Act 2001.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 16 July 2004
	The cost of the Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence, which is valid for three years, reflects the licence application process and includes the current cost of a Criminal Records Bureau Standard Disclosure (28). It also funds the associated activities undertaken to secure the future of the private security industry. These include compliance with and enforcement of the licensing scheme, raising awareness, accommodation, personnel, and research costs. The licence fee is tax deductible.
	The private security industry contains a number of sectors each requiring their own skills and competencies. The SIA has worked closely with the industry to both identify and tailor training for these sector specific competencies. The nature of the sectors will mean that some training and competencies require sector specific licences. However, wherever possible, when competencies overlap between sectors, the SIA has exploited opportunities for one licence to be valid across a range of licensable activities.
	The manned guarding sector is expected to commence rollout in January 2005. The industry has been supporting the SIA by working in partnership to find a mutually beneficial approach to the transition to licensing and developing the most appropriate process. The 12 months between commencement and legal requirement will allow business to spread their employees' training requirements and applications over a mutually agreeable time frame that meets both the commercial needs of the industry and the implementation of regulation.
	The Government's White Paper published in 1999 envisaged that in-house staff employed on manned guarding duties would be covered by licensing arrangements. However, it was subsequently decided that, in light of differences in needs and circumstances between in-house provision and that under external contract, licensing requirements under the Act should not extend to in-house staff. More recently, the SIA has commissioned a detailed examination of in-house security provision, and a report is expected towards the end of the year.

Sexual Offences

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences of unlawful sexual intercourse with a child under 16 years were (a) recorded and (b) successfully prosecuted in each police area in the last year for which information is available.

Paul Goggins: In England and Wales during 2002–03 there were 1,514 recorded crimes for the offence of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 16. In 2002, in all courts in England and Wales, there were 228 convictions for this offence. For the offence of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13, there were 187 recorded crimes in 2002–03 and 47 convictions in 2002. There were no equivalent recorded crimes for a boy of these ages.
	These statistics are not published at Police Force Area level.

Stop and Search

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases are outstanding from the stop and search orders issued under Section 44 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 at the time of the use by the US Air Force of RAF Fairford.

Hazel Blears: Stop and search powers under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 were in force in Gloucestershire Constabulary between 6 March and 27 April 2003. During this period, as a result of a Section 44 stop and search, six people were arrested for suspected drug related offences, one person for a suspected breach of the peace and one person for suspected criminal damage. None of these cases are outstanding. Five of those arrested were released, two were cautioned and one received a conditional discharge.

Stop and Search

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the 2002–03 stop and search figures for West Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office's Stop and Search Action Team has analysed the figures relating to the use of stop and search powers in West Yorkshire during 2002–03. There was a significant rise in the overall number of people who were stopped and searched by the police, but the figures do not suggest that there is evidence that the police had targeted any particular racial or ethnic group. Between 2001–02 and 2002–03 there was not a significant change in the proportion of people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds that were stopped and searched by the police.

Stop and Search

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the operation of stop and search powers in England (a) generally and (b) under counter-terrorism legislation.

Hazel Blears: In July 2004 the Stop and Search Action Team (SSAT) was launched to ensure that police forces use the stop and search power fairly and as effectively as possible.
	SSAT's programme of work will include further research looking at the disproportionate impact of these powers on communities; work with selected forces to understand the causes of disproportionality; and the development of a good practice
	package.
	The SSAT will be working with both police and community representatives to deliver their work programme. The use of stop and search powers under terrorism legislation is included within the work programme and this will include work to reassure Muslim communities that these powers, including counter-terrorism powers, are being used proportionately and appropriately.

Street Crime (London)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on policing in central London and each of its surrounding boroughs in 2003–04.

Hazel Blears: The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)'s net budget requirement in 2003–04 was £2,207.8 million. Distribution of resources within the Service is a matter for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and the Metropolitan Police Authority.
	Resources are allocated directly to borough operational command units using the Service's resource allocation formula. In addition, borough units are able to call upon all-London Units (such as dog sections, Territorial Support Group, Traffic and Air Support Units) when operational priorities dictate.
	The Commissioner informs me that the budget for the Westminster borough operational command unit in 2003–04 was £81.4 million. The cost of policing public order, specialist units, non-operational support units providing service to Westminster, the Royal Palaces, Palace of Westminster and Diplomatic Protection was additional. Total police spending in Westminster could be calculated only at disproportionate cost.
	I understand from Chamberlain to the Corporation of London that the net budget for the City of London Police in 2003–04 was £67.2 million.

Street Crime (London)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many street crimes were reported in London in (a) 1997, (b) 1999, (c) 2001, (d) 2003 and (e) 2004; and how many were prosecuted in each year.

Hazel Blears: Information specifically relating to street crimes is not collected centrally. The statistics that are collected on recorded crime relate to offences of business and personal robbery. Prosecution data does not distinguish between these two types of robbery and is only available for all robbery offences.

Terrorism/Security Legislation

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the recent findings on the percentage of people of Asian origin arrested under terrorism and security legislation.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 19 July 2004
	Published figures on arrests under terrorism legislation do not include information on ethnic origin. The statistics published recently in the report under section 95 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 included the ethnic breakdown of those stopped and searched under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
	We are concerned about any issues of disproportionality and are committed to improving and developing a close partnership with all communities towards the shared aim of combating terrorism. We are undertaking specific work to reassure communities that counter-terrorism powers are being used proportionately and appropriately.
	The Home Office has formed the Stop and Search Action Team to take work forward to ensure that stop and search as a police power is used fairly and as effectively as possible in the prevention and detection of crime. We have also published guidance for police forces on the authorisation of powers under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000, which emphasises the need to consider as wide a range of factors as possible when authorising the use of these powers.
	The powers within the Terrorism Act are aimed at terrorists, whatever their background or section of society they may come from. They are not aimed at a particular race, religion, or any other social group. In using them, the police have regard to the threat we face in this country from terrorism. That threat is mainly, but not exclusively, from international terrorism in connection with Al Qaida and its associated networks.

Terrorist Attack

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to post advice for citizens on actions to be taken during terrorist attacks on the (a) Home Office and (b) UK resilience websites.

David Blunkett: I refer the hon. Member to my statement of 20 March 2003, Official Report, column 51WS.
	The UK Resilience website already directs the public to the Home Office website and the advice on what measures they can take to protect themselves from terrorism at work, home and when preparing to go abroad http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/terrorism/protect/index.html.
	The hon. Member will also be aware that on Monday 26 July my colleague Caroline Flint MP launched a public information booklet called "Preparing for Emergencies—What You Need To Know" which will be delivered to every household in the UK during August. This booklet can be accessed on the following website: www.preparingforemergencies.gov.uk.

Victim Support

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent by his Department supporting victims of (a) crime and (b) domestic violence in each of the last 25 years; and what the planned budgets for each are as a result of the Spending Review for each police authority area in England and Wales.

Hazel Blears: The information is as follows:
	(a) A large part of the budget of the criminal justice agencies goes to help support victims of crime—it is estimated that around £650 million is invested at national level. However, it is not possible to break down the specific amounts, or to separate different types of crime. The following table shows the expenditure over the last 25 years that can be identified as being directly allocated from the Home Office to support victims of crime.
	
		Allocation to organisations directly supporting victims
		
			 Financial year Total (£ million) 
		
		
			 1978–79 14.624 
			 1979–80 17.658 
			 1980–81 24.402 
			 1981–82 25.238 
			 1982–83 33.203 
			 1983–84 36.635 
			 1984–85 39.518 
			 1985–86 46.068 
			 1986–87 53.979 
			 1987–88 60.563 
			 1988–89 79.602 
			 1989–90 85.696 
			 1991–92 162.432 
			 1992–93 173.702 
			 1993–94 191.081 
			 1994–95 202.940 
			 1995–96 208.820 
			 1996–97 240.829 
			 1997–98 234.841 
			 1998–99 229.437 
			 1999–2000 247.466 
			 2000–01 267.368 
			 2001–02 326.535 
			 2002–03 268.110 
		
	
	(b) The Home Office also provides funding for numerous initiatives and pilot projects including the Road Traffic pilot projects and support for victims of human trafficking. The Home Office also announced in April 2004 that it would provide additional funding of £4 million over two years, specifically to boost the development of services for victims of sexual offending, including developing and extending the network of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs).
	(c) The Government are committed to tackling domestic violence. The Home Office is spending £14 million on domestic violence in the 2002 Spending Review period (2003–04 to 2005–06). This money is being used to help support victims, bring perpetrators to justice and prevent domestic violence in the first place, all of which will help make victims and their children safer. In earlier spending rounds, domestic violence related projects have included the piloting of a range of interventions through the Violence Against Women Initiative, part of the £10.7 million Crime Reduction Programme.
	(d) Spending programmes and support for police authorities from the provisions of the 2004 Spending Review are under consideration.

Visiting Forces Act

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since 1974 US forces personnel have submitted certificates of immunity under the Visiting Forces Act 1952 to British courts.

Des Browne: holding answer 14 June 2004
	Statistics on certificates of immunity are not collected centrally.

Volunteering

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to encourage voluntary activity among (a) senior civil servants and (b) members of the Cabinet.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 19 July 2004
	Volunteering within the Home Office is encouraged at all levels including senior civil servants particularly through a new scheme called the "Out of Office Experience," which has been running for the last 12 months. As part of this initiative staff are encouraged to apply for up to five days Special Annual Leave per year, with pay, to undertake voluntary work. The initiative encourages volunteering and enables staff to see Home Office policies being delivered at the front line.
	There is no specific initiative in place to encourage volunteering among Cabinet members, but all ministers witness at first hand the dedication of many volunteers and the valuable contribution their activity makes in many areas of life when they undertake official visits to agencies that use volunteers.

Witness and Victim Intimidation

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of intimidation of (a) witnesses and (b) victims have been recorded in each year for which figures are available.

David Blunkett: An exact answer to the question is not available.
	The table shows recorded crime figures since 1997 for the offence of perverting the course of justice in England and Wales.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 6,779 
			 1997–98 7,108 
			 1998–99 9,216 
			 1998–99(65) 9,265 
			 1999–2000 9,637 
			 2000–01 9,763 
			 2001–02 10,287 
			 2002–03 11,295 
		
	
	(65) The number of crimes recorded in that financial year using the expanded offence coverage and revised counting rules which came into effect on 1 April 1998.
	The following table gives figures on Court Proceedings by offence:
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates' courts and found guilty at all courts, England and Wales 2002 (66)
		
			 Offence description Statute Proceeded against Found guilty 
		
		
			 Intimidating a juror or witness or person assisting in investigation of offenders Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 Sec. 51(1) 2,046 415 
			 Harming or threatening to harm a juror, witness or person assisting in investigation of offences Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 Sec. 51 (2) 249 65 
			 Intimidating or intending to intimidate a witness Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 Sec. 39 15 3 
			 Harming or intending to harm a witness Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 Sec. 40 3 1 
		
	
	(66) These data are on the principal offence basis.

HEALTH

EU Clinical Trials Directive

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of the EU Clinical Trials Directive in the UK.

Rosie Winterton: The United Kingdom Clinical Trials Regulations 1 to implement the Clinical Trials Directive 2 came into force on 1 May 2004. It is still early to fully assess the impact of the Directive in the UK. Transitional arrangements allowed holders of existing authorisations or exemptions to roll them over as clinical trial authorisations without applying again to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) or paying a fee. The MHRA has met its deadline of 14 days for Phase I applications and of 30 days for all other applications. Generally the new procedures have been introduced without disruption of clinical trials. Industry and academia have both given early positive feedback on the UK's implementation of the Directive.
	1 The Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004 S.I. 1031.
	2 Directive 2001/20/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 April 2001 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the member states relating to the implementation of good clinical practice in the conduct of clinical trials on medicinal products for human use.

Meat Products (Added Water)

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment the Food Standards Agency has made of the effects of producers injecting water into meat products;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effects of supermarkets injecting water into meat products.

Melanie Johnson: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is aware of concerns about trade in products which appear to be raw unprocessed meat but which have been injected with excess added water, in some cases as high as 50 per cent., and moisture retaining ingredients. While there are no food safety concerns the FSA's view is that this practice is unacceptable. It is therefore pressing for stronger legislative controls at European Union level to prohibit use of moisture retaining ingredients, introduce limits on addition of water and improve labelling.
	The FSA is aware of concerns about the labelling of some pork products with lower levels of added water which are sold in United Kingdom supermarkets. A stakeholder meeting held earlier this year concluded that label declarations of added water on these products should be sufficiently prominent that consumers can make informed choices about the products they buy. The FSA is currently drawing up best practice guidelines to encourage clearer labelling.

Milk Products

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether liquid or powdered milk, from EU member states used in the production of milk products produced in another EU member state can be identified by UK authorities on its import to the UK.

Melanie Johnson: Milk products from other European Union Member States are in free circulation and would not be subject to any special checks when entering the United Kingdom. They must carry a health mark identifying the establishment from which they come and, through that establishment, it would be possible for enforcement authorities to trace the origin of the milk used to make them.

Abortions

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many abortions have been performed in each year since 1990 at (a) 22 weeks gestation and (b) 23 weeks gestation;
	(2)  what the gestational age was of each of the recorded abortions since 1990 for (a) cleft lip and (b) cleft palate;
	(3)  how many abortions for (a) cleft lip and (b) cleft palate were performed prior to 1990.

Melanie Johnson: The available information is contained in the annual Office for National Statistics publication, "Abortion Statistics, series AB"; Office for National Statistics, "Congenital Anomaly Statistics notifications, series MB3" and Department of Health, "Statistical Bulletin 2003/23", copies of which have been placed in the Library.

Adur, Arun and Worthing Primary Care Trust

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of staff in Adur, Arun and Worthing Primary Care Trust are agency staff.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	The NHS Professionals special health authority has been established to provide strategic management of the temporary labour market within the national health service. This new organisation, which became fully operational on April 1, 2004, will in future collect and analyse information on agency usage in the NHS trusts, in which the service is implemented. However, this will not capture all agency usage within the NHS, as not all organisations utilise NHS Professionals.

Asthma

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the incidence of (a) child and (b) adult asthma was in each of the last 25 years, broken down by region.

Stephen Ladyman: This information is not collected centrally.

Breast Screening

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of breast screening sites provide screening for women aged between 65 and 70 years; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: As at 30 June 2004, 51 per cent. of the 81 local breast screening programmes in England had begun inviting women aged 65 to 70 for breast screening. All local programmes are expected to begin inviting the older women by December 2004 and we are closely monitoring the achievement of this target. Since the age extension began in April 2001, over 250,000 more women have been invited for breast screening. 400,000 more women a year will be invited once the extension is fully implemented.

Care Homes

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of people had their needs reviewed within three months of placement in a care home in each local authority.

Stephen Ladyman: We have issued guidance to local councils under the "Fairer Access" to Care Services in May 2002, which stated that there should be an initial review within three months of help first being provided to the individual. The information on the percentage of people whose needs are reviewed within three months of placement in a care home is not held centrally.

Care Homes

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds were available for the elderly in care homes in the Thames Valley in (a) 2004, (b) 1997 and (c) 2001.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 22 July 2004
	The table shows the number of places available for adults aged 65 and over in residential and nursing care homes in the Thames Valley, at 31 March for the years 1997 and 2001.
	
		Number of care home places for adults aged 65 and over in the Thames Valley(67), 1997 and 2001, as at 31 March
		
			  Residential 2,3Nursing 
		
		
			 1997 6,300 — 
			 2001 6,500 4,600 
		
	
	(67) For 1997 residential care, the Thames Valley has been taken as Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire local authorities. For 2001, the Thames Valley has been taken as Bracknell Forest, Milton Keynes, Reading, Slough, West Berkshire, Windsor and Maidenhead and Wokingham local authorities for residential care; and Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire health authorities for nursing care.
	(68) Nursing home figures include places in general nursing homes, mental nursing homes and private hospitals and clinics.
	(69) Information is not available by age band at health authority level for 1997.
	Note:
	Numbers of rounded.
	I understand from the chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that figures for later years were collected by the National Care Standards Commission, and now CSCI, but comparable details are not available.

Children's Health Services

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals operate children's accident and emergency departments.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not collect this information in the form requested.

Children's Health Services

Hilton Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes in funding for children's health services he intends to make as a consequence of the 2004 Spending Review.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 22 July 2004
	In the 2004 spending review, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer confirmed sustained high levels of investment in the national health service of 7.1 per cent., in real terms. The large majority of this funding will be allocated directly to primary care trusts and it will be local decision making that determines the level of investment required to achieve national standards and meet local priorities.

Chiropractors

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations the Government have received about the availability of chiropractic treatment on the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: The only representation we have received so far this year on this subject was from the hon. Member for Witney (Mr. Cameron) on behalf of a constituent. I replied on 9 May.

Chlamydia/Ectopic Pregnancies

John Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list (a) the rate for the detection of chlamydia and (b) the rate of ectopic pregnancies for each of the hospital trusts in London and the South East in the last year for which figures are available.

Melanie Johnson: Information on the rate of detection of chlamydia for each hospital trust in London and the South East is not available.
	Data on ectopic pregnancies are shown in the table:
	
		Number of hospital episodes with a primary diagnoses of ectopic pregnancy (ICD10 Code 000), 2002–03
		
			 Trust name Total episodes 
		
		
			 London  
			 Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 36 
			 North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust 71 
			 The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust 43 
			 Kingston Hospital NHS Trust 62 
			 Ealing Hospital NHS Trust 53 
			 Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust 119 
			 West Middlesex University NHS Trust 40 
			 Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust 55 
			 Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust 39 
			 Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust 77 
			 Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust 46 
			 Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Trust 94 
			 The Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust 96 
			 St. Mary's NHS Trust 69 
			 Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust 71 
			 St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust 85 
			 King's College Hospital NHS Trust 144 
			 Whittington Hospital NHS Trust 65 
			 Newham Healthcare NHS Trust 54 
			 Barts and The London NHS Trust 103 
			 Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust 62 
			 Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust 114 
			 Homerton University Hospital NHS Trust 76 
			 University College London Hospitals NHS Trust 60 
			 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 124 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 43 
			 Epsom and St. Helier NHS Trust 46 
			 South East  
			 Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Trust 28 
			 Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Trust 52 
			 Milton Keynes General Hospital NHS Trust 56 
			 Frimley Park Hospital NHS Trust 42 
			 South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust 36 
			 Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust 79 
			 Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust 94 
			 Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospitals NHS Trust 56 
			 Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust 34 
			 North Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust 43 
			 Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust 46 
			 Kettering General Hospital NHS Trust 64 
			 Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust 79 
			 Stoke Mandeville Hospital NHS Trust 38 
			 Medway NHS Trust 40 
			 Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust 45 
			 Royal West Sussex NHS Trust 28 
			 Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Trust 26 
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospital NHS Trust 110 
			 Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust 54 
			 Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust 51 
			 East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust 103 
			 Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust 62 
			 East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust 60 
			 Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust 46 
		
	
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics
	Produced by SD3G

Continuing Care

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many primary care trusts have successfully implemented the Single Assessment Process as outlined in Standard Two of the National Service Framework for Older People; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Localities were required to complete an audit of progress regarding their implementation of the single assessment process for older people up to 1 April 2004. Progress reports should have been forwarded by localities to strategic health authorities (SHAs) by the end of June. SHAs have a further three months to take stock of the reports and approach individual localities over issues of significant concern.

Continuing Care

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2004, Official Report, column 361W, on continuing care, on what date the report of the review of NHS continuing care will be published.

Stephen Ladyman: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 8 June 2004, Official Report, column 361W and also to the written ministerial statement I made on 22 June 2004, Official Report, column 78WS.

Cosmetic Surgery

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 8 July 2004, Official Report, column 800W, on cosmetic surgery, if he will accept the Select Committee's recommendation that health warnings be placed on all advertising for cosmetic surgery.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government's response to all the recommendations in the Health Select Committee's fifth report on the regulation of private and other independent healthcare was published on 3 December 1999. Copies are available in the Library.
	The Government did not support the Committee's recommendation that health warnings be placed on all advertising for cosmetic surgery. As the Committee noted, all surgery carries an element of risk—it is not exclusive to cosmetic procedures. It is the professional duty of all surgeons to discuss with each patient the possible risks, to secure informed consent.

Dentistry

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many training places were available in dental schools for trainee dentists in each year since 1991.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 15 July 2004
	The quota of training places available for dentists in dental schools in England shown in the table has remained unchanged since the last dental workforce review conducted in 1987. Information on the number of dentists admitted to dental schools, which is available from 1997 and is included in the table, shows that intakes have increased. On 16 July, we announced that funding would be provided for an extra 170 undergraduate dental training places in England from October 2005.
	
		Number of training places available in England
		
			 Dental school Number of training places Number of students admitted each year 1997199819992000200120022003(70) 
		
		
			 Birmingham 65 69 71 71 69 73 77 76 
			 Bristol 50 59 55 57 56 55 58 60 
			 King's College, London 145 173 148 138 152 50 168 151 
			 Leeds 55 58 52 62 54 61 65 59 
			 Liverpool 55 59 56 57 53 57 56 66 
			 Manchester 60 59 66 81 89 79 87 90 
			 Newcastle 68 80 78 65 73 70 70 72 
			 QMW (Barts and The London) 55 55 56 60 65 68 61 78 
			 Sheffield 47 56 51 56 61 59 69 72 
			 Total 600 668 633 647 672 672 711 724 
		
	
	(70) Provisional figures.

Dentistry

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on the recent returning to NHS dentistry advertisements in national newspapers; how many advertisements have been placed; for what period of time; what other media are being used to urge dentists to return to working in NHS dentistry; what budget this spending will come from; and what indicators he will use to test the effectiveness of this advertising campaign.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has spent around £120,000 on media for this campaign. Five different case studies of dentists who have returned to national health service work or joined the "Keeping in Touch" scheme have been used in 15 insertions in some national and professional press titles and magazines. Press is the only advertising medium being used, but free information leaflets have been produced for enquirers. Information is also available from the NHS careers service helpline and website.
	The campaign started on 30 June and will continue throughout August in some monthly titles. The effectiveness of the campaign will be judged by the numbers of calls to the response line and by applications to join the "Keeping in Touch" scheme.

Dentistry

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is his Department's policy to allow newly qualified dentists from other EU countries to practise in the UK where their training has included no clinical experience.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 22 July 2004
	Dentists, who are nationals of and who qualified in a European Economic Area (EEA) State, are entitled to automatic recognition throughout the EEA on the basis that their qualifications must comply with specified minimum training requirements, which include mandatory practical instruction. Where these requirements are not met, recognition may be subject to proof of a specified minimum period of professional experience.

Dentistry

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have moved from NHS to private dental treatment in the last seven years.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not held centrally but, in its report, "The private dentistry market in the UK", the Office of Fair Trading estimated that the private dentistry market was valued at over £1 billion in 2001, with 7 million people regularly receiving private dental treatment. We accept that the difficulties people have in accessing national health service dentistry in some areas has contributed to the growth in private dentistry. To address this problem, we are undertaking the most significant reform of NHS dentistry since the inception of the NHS. On 16 July, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, announced that an extra £368 million has been allocated to recruiting 1,000 more dentists, funding an extra 170 training places for undergraduates in dental schools and increasing the overall expenditure on primary care NHS dental services by 19 per cent. Commissioning of these services is to be devolved from the Department so that, from October 2005, each primary care trust will have a duty to provide and secure the dental care it considers necessary to meet all reasonable requirements of its population.

Dentistry

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the average distance a person from the BB7 postcode area would need to travel to see a NHS dentist if he were to register on 19 July with the nearest available dentist.

Rosie Winterton: The average distance to a general dental service surgery is 1.51 miles for people living in the BB7 postcode area.

Dentistry

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are on waiting lists to register with a NHS dentist.

Rosie Winterton: There are no official waiting lists to register with a National Health Service dentist, although some primary care trusts may keep lists of people who have indicated that they wish to register.

Dentistry

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his written statement of 16 July 2004, Official Report, columns 90–1WS, on NHS dentistry, how many patients will be able to register with the additional NHS dentists.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 22 July 2004
	We estimate that 1,000 whole-time equivalent dentists, who we plan to recruit to the national health service by October 2005, will be capable of treating two million people who cannot at the moment access a NHS dentist.

Dentistry

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 12 July 2004, Official Report, column 934W, on NHS dentistry, what assessment he has made of the impact of shortages of dentists accepting NHS patients on levels of emergency hospital admissions for dental treatment.

Rosie Winterton: Very few dental emergencies require hospital admission. People requiring urgent dental treatment are advised to telephone NHS Direct. Reports indicate that some 93 per cent. of callers to NHS Direct are being advised of available sources of national health service dentistry within locally agreed standards and about 19,000 people a month are doing so.

Dentistry

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the UK schools of dentistry that have agreed to increase their undergraduate places in (a) 2004 and (b) 2005, broken down by number of places.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 22 July 2004
	We are providing an extra 170 extra undergraduate dental training places in England from October 2005, supported by £80 million capital expenditure over four years and revenue funding reaching £29 million by 2010–11. The chief dental officer will chair a working party to decide where the extra training places will be provided.

Departmental Age Policy

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether (a) his Department and (b) agencies for which it is responsible (i) have a set retirement age which applies to all or most personnel and (ii) have a maximum age beyond which applications for employment will not be considered; and what the age is in each case.

Rosie Winterton: The retirement age for most staff within the Department and its agencies is currently set at 60. However, the requirement to retire at 60 has been amended from November this year to enable staff to remain in employment until they reach 65 years if they wish. Staff in the senior civil service may also apply to stay on beyond 60 if they wish but this is subject to approval by the Permanent Secretary, or Cabinet Office for the most senior staff.

Departmental Consultancy and Accountancy Costs

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost has been to the Department of (a) management consultants and (b) accountancy advice in the past year.

Rosie Winterton: Expenditure by the Department for management consultants and accountancy advice for the year 2003–04 is £10.031 million. The central accounting system does not identify separately management consultants and accountancy advice.

Departmental Energy Efficiency

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on energy efficiency in his Department's buildings.

Rosie Winterton: This Department fully supports the Government's strategy to reduce carbon emissions and improve the energy efficiency of the Government estate. We have reduced our total annual energy consumption, and are committed to achieving further energy efficiency savings wherever possible. At least 50 per cent. of the Department's energy is now purchased from renewable sources.

Departmental Furnishings

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent in the last year for which figures are available on (a) refurbishment and (b) office furniture.

Rosie Winterton: For the financial year 2003–04 the Department spent £2,840,000 on refurbishment and £437,595.07 on the purchase of furniture.

Departmental Light Bulbs

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on replacing light bulbs in the last year for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: The cost of replacing lamps on the Department's estate during the financial year 2003–04 was £79,083, inclusive of parts and labour.

Departmental Mobiles

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) capital and (b) running cost was to the taxpayer of mobile phones in his Department in each year since 2001.

Rosie Winterton: The capital and running costs to the taxpayer of mobile phones in the Department, in each financial year since 2001, are shown in the table.
	
		£
		
			 Financial year Capital costs Running costs 
		
		
			 2001–02 Nil 270,000 
			 2002–03 Nil 280,000 
			 2003–04 Nil 304,000

Departmental Mobiles

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mobile phones owned by his Department have been reported lost or stolen since 2001.

Rosie Winterton: The Department takes the protection of all its assets, including mobile phones very seriously. All users are made aware of their obligation to safeguard departmental property and security procedures are kept under constant review. Departmental records do not differentiate between lost and stolen mobile phones and all losses are investigated.
	The number of mobile phones owned by the Department, reported lost or stolen since 2001 is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Financial year Numbers lost/stolen 
		
		
			 2001–02 37 
			 2002–03 34 
			 2002–04 29

Departmental Theft

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of theft was to (a) his Department in each of the last 10 years and (b) the executive agencies for which his Department is responsible in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has records of losses and thefts from 1997 to date. The table shows the value in replacement terms for each financial year. It is not possible to break these figures down further to show the split between the Department and its agencies.
	
		£
		
			  Value 
		
		
			 1997–98 44,648 
			 1998–99 44,204 
			 1999–2000 40,432 
			 2000–01 47,049 
			 2001–02 33,866 
			 2002–03 66,004 
			 2003–04 56,917

Departmental Vehicles

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many road vehicles are operated by the Department and its agencies; how many personal injury accidents involving road vehicles operated by the Department have occurred within each of the last five years; and what the Department's policy is for managing work-related road safety.

Rosie Winterton: The Department and its executive agencies operate 82 vehicles.
	There have been five personal injury accidents involving Department operated vehicles within the last five years. Records are no longer held centrally for dates of accidents.
	The Department has introduced a number of measures to enhance drivers' safety, including revising the vehicle choice list and developing guidance to promote safer driving.

Diabetes

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many finished consultant episodes there were for (a) paediatric, (b) adolescent and (c) adult treatment for type two diabetes in (i) England and (ii) each strategic health authority in each year since 1996.

Rosie Winterton: Counts of finished consultant episode statistics for paediatric, adolescent and adult treatment for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, which includes cases of type two diabetes in England and each strategic health authority of residence for 1996–97 to 2002–03 have been placed in the Library. Figures specific to type two diabetes are not held centrally.

Diagnostic and Treatment Centres

Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Government will achieve their target of developing 20 diagnostic and treatment centres by 2004; and what the state of progress was at 1 April.

John Hutton: The Government have already achieved their planned target of opening 20 treatment centres (TCs) by 2004. By 1 April 2004 there were 27 national health service TCs and two independent sector (IS) TCs open and two mobile IS cataract treatment centres.

Diagnostic and Treatment Centres

Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Government are on track to achieve their target of developing 47 diagnostic and treatment centres by 2008; and what the state of progress was at 1 April.

John Hutton: The Government are on track to achieve their target of opening 47 treatment centres (TCs) by the end of 2005. By 1 April 2004, 29 fixed site TCs were open: 27 run by the national health service and two run and managed by the independent sector. In addition, there are two mobile units run by the independent sector providing ophthalmology procedures.

Dog Excrement

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people are estimated to be treated in hospitals and health centres as a consequence of falls following contact with dog excrement on public byways and in public spaces;
	(2)  what the estimated cost to public health authorities of treating patients for injuries incurred as a result of falls due to contact with dog excrement (a) on public byways and (b) in public spaces has been in each year since 1997, broken down by strategic health authority.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is not available centrally and it is not possible to estimate the cost.

E-recruitment

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on professional body journals of the introduction of NHS e-recruitment of allied health professions.

John Hutton: The Department has had regular meetings with representatives from the healthcare professions to discuss the national health service e-recruitment project and will continue to work with them. In addition, the Department of Health and the Department of Trade and Industry are working with members of the Periodical Publishers Association to share information about the development of the service, assess its impact and explore ways in which the service and the health journals can work together to support cost effective recruitment into the NHS.

E-recruitment

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements his Department has made to ensure that non-NHS employers will have access to e-recruitment for allied health professionals.

John Hutton: The first phase of the e-recruitment service for the national health service is to extend the service to NHS employers. When the service has bedded in there will be an opportunity to consider extending the service to other employers and organisations.

E-recruitment

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to monitor the implementation of NHS e-recruitment in respect of NHS trusts spending on hard copy advertisements.

John Hutton: National health service employers joining the e-recruitment service are asked to report annually on their spend in hard copy advertisements and how savings are being reallocated to direct patient care.

Fall/Osteoporosis Services

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with primary care trusts with regard to the integration of falls and osteoporosis services.

Stephen Ladyman: In the development of support for local action on putting in place integrated falls services officials have had continued interaction with colleagues within primary care trusts and councils. This has included involvement in the development of the national service framework for older people, published in 2001, which contains a service model for an integrated falls service, including appropriate links to osteoporosis, and of supporting information on service development and good practice.
	The national primary care development team's healthy communities collaborative on falls and the falls collaborative have also provided opportunities for primary care trusts and departmental officials to come together to consider these issues.

Fall/Osteoporosis Services

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what osteoporosis-specific activities his Department is engaged with; and which relate particularly to osteoporosis sufferers who have not fallen.

Stephen Ladyman: Local health trusts are taking measures to reduce the risk of fracture by indentying individuals at risk and ensuring appropriate interventions. This is supported by the work of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), which is currently undertaking a technology appraisal looking at five osteoporosis durgs. The Department has also asked NICE to produce a clinical guideline on the assessment of risk fracture and prevention of osteoporotic fractures in individuals at high risk. The guideline will refer to, update and extend the evidence base of previously published guidelines and technology appraisals and those currently under development. Work on the clinical guideline is underway and expected to be published in 2005.

Fluoridation

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what peer review has been undertaken of the Newcastle University report "Bioavailability of fluoride in drinking water—a human experimental study", funded by his Department;
	(2)  where he expects the Newcastle University report funded by his Department, "Bioavailability of fluoride in drinking water—a human experimental study", to be published.

Melanie Johnson: A draft of the final report was submitted for peer review to five eminent academic experts in this field at universities in Sweden, the United States, London, Sheffield and Leicester. In addition, Professor Andy Renwick of the University of Southampton provided advice on the project and on the draft report as an independent member of the Department's steering group. All of these comments were provided to the Newcastle team to help with its preparation of the final report. The university has put the report on its website at http://www.ncl.ac.uk/dental/research/diet/fluoride.htm.
	I understand that the researchers plan to submit an article about their findings to an academic journal.

Foundation Trusts

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average turnout of (a) public voters and (b) patient voters has been in elections for boards of foundation trust hospitals.

John Hutton: holding answer 21 July 2004
	I am informed by the chairman of the independent regulator that, in respect of the first 20 national health service foundation trusts authorised to date, the average turnout in elections of public voters and patient voters was 52 per cent. and 27 per cent. respectively.

General Practitioners (Out-of-hours Service)

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what comparative assessment he has made of the impact on hospital emergency services of (a) out-of-hours service cover by general practitioners in (i) Sheffield and (ii) other areas which have chosen not to use an arm's length service provider and (b) the cover provided in (A) Nottingham and (B) other areas using arm's length providers.

John Hutton: No central comparison has been made of the impact of out-of-hours services on emergency services of areas where general practitioners have not opted-out and areas where organised providers, such as GP co-ops, have been commissioned by primary care trusts (PCTs) to provide the service.
	As recommended by the independent review of GP out-of-hours services, PCTs should be developing integrated networks of unscheduled care, which bring together accident and emergency, ambulance services, walk-in centres and in-hours services, to meet the full range of patient needs and to reduce unnecessary referrals to emergency services.
	There is to be no change to the pattern of provision for 80 per cent. of Nottingham residents already served by the GP co-operative, Nottingham Emergency Medical Services (NEMS) and which have been so for six years. NEMS is an active participant of the local emergency care network and no adverse impact on emergency care has been identified locally.

General Practitioners (Out-of-hours Service)

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to encourage general practitioners to ensure that out-of-hours cover services are supported by appropriate access to patient records and history.

John Hutton: The national quality standards, which all providers of out-of-hours services must meet, include specific requirements that there is rapid and effective transmission of patient data between general practitioner practices and out-of-hours services, a system for transmitting information on patients with special needs from the practice to the provider, and all providers must be able to supply full clinical details of all consultations to the patient's GP practice by the next working day.
	This will be further improved through the introduction of the electronic patient record. In Nottingham local providers and practices are establishing systems for sharing patient information. Nottingham Emergency Medical Services, in partnership with the local emergency care network and NHS Direct, has already established a database of important information provided by GPs on the most vulnerable members of their practice population. This is being extended and access to this is being enabled for other emergency care providers.

General Practitioners (Out-of-hours Service)

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what comparative assessment he has (a) made and (b) commissioned of patient safety under (i) National Emergency Medical Services cover and (ii) general practitioners running their own out-of-hours service.

John Hutton: All organised out-of-hours providers must meet the national quality standards. The standards, which cover clinical governance, organisational and service standards, and access and clinical assessment, are designed to ensure that patients receive the highest-quality care, and were recommended by the independent review of general practitioner out-of-hours services in 2000.
	The national quality standards are currently being reviewed by an expert group, to reflect the new contractual mechanisms in primary care. The new standards will come into effect on 1 January 2005 and from this date all providers of out-of-hours services, including GP practices which choose not to opt-out, will have to meet the quality standards as a contractual obligation.
	Primary care trusts (PCTs) will monitor all providers in the delivery of their services to ensure they meet the standards and the strategic health authorities in turn will performance manage the PCTs in delivering these services.

GP Contract

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Vale of York (Miss McIntosh) of 25 March 2004, Official Report, column 1050W, on general practitioners, what assessment his Department has made in (a) money and (b) manpower terms of the potential impact of the new GP contract on ambulance services providing out-of-hours cover.

John Hutton: No central assessment has been made; however, the new contract provides the opportunity for primary care trusts to commission and resource out-of-hours services together with ambulance services, to provide integrated unscheduled care. This should ensure that patients receive easy access to the treatment they need and that the most effective and appropriate use is made of ambulance services.

GPs (Saturday Morning Surgeries)

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the likely impact on hospital emergency services of the choice general practitioners will have after October to opt out of Saturday morning surgeries.

John Hutton: Under the new general medical services contract, primary care trusts (PCTs) have responsibility for ensuring a high quality service is available to patients during the out-of-hours period, which now includes Saturday mornings. PCTs have consequently built this extra demand into their capacity assumptions and their commissioning. They are also communicating details of changes, where necessary, to patients and other local services.

Health Expenditure

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the level of public expenditure on health was in real terms at today's prices in each of the last 25 years.

John Hutton: The table shows total net national health service expenditure in England for the period 1980–81 to 2004–05, at 2004–05 prices.
	
		Total net NHS expenditure at 2004–05 prices(71)
		
			  £ billion 
		
		
			 1980–812,3 26.2 
			 1981–82(73) 26.8 
			 1982–83(73) 27.2 
			 1983–84(73) 27.5 
			 1984–85(73) 28.0 
			 1985–86(73) 28.1 
			 1986–87(73) 29.2 
			 1987–88(73) 30.4 
			 1988–89(73) 31.4 
			 1989–90(73) 31.6 
			 1990–91(73) 32.9 
			 1991–92(73) 35.3 
			 1992–93(73) 37.7 
			 1993–94(73) 38.0 
			 1994–95(73) 39.6 
			 1995–96(73) 40.2 
			 1996–97(73) 40.1 
			 1997–98(73) 41.1 
			 1998–99(73) 42.2 
			 1999–20003,4 45.3 
			 2000–01(73) 49.0 
			 2001–02(73) 53.3 
			 2002–03(73) 56.8 
			 2003–045,6 65.1 
			 2004–05(77) 69.4 
		
	
	(71) Figures are not directly comparable across the period.
	(72) Expenditure for the period 1980–81 to 1998–99 is on a cash basis.
	(73) Outturn.
	(74) Expenditure for the period 1999–2000 to 2002–03 is on a stage 1 resource budgeting basis.
	(75) Expenditure for the period 2003–04 and 2004–05 is on a stage 2 resource budgeting basis.
	(76) Estimated outturn.
	(77) Plan.
	Note:
	Gross domestic product series as at 30 June 2004.

Health Protection Agency

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what formal relationship his Department has with the Health Protection Agency.

Melanie Johnson: The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is a special health authority (SHA), created by the Health Protection Agency (Yr Asiantaeth Diogelu lechyd) Establishment Order 2003 (SI 2003/505), with further provision made in the Health Protection Agency (Yr Asiantaeth Diogelu lechyd) Regulations (SI 2003/506). Further material relevant to the Secretary of State's relationship with the SHA is in the Secretary of State's directions to the HPA conferring functions and directing how they should be exercised (dated 1 April 2003) and in the management statement agreed with the authority, copies of which are available in the Library.
	The Health Protection Agency Act received Royal Assent on 22 July 2004. This makes provision for establishing the HPA as a non-departmental public body, which will take up the functions of both the HPA SHA and the National Radiological Protection Board, both of which will be wound up. Our intention is that this should happen on 1 April 2005.

Health Services (Non-EU Nationals)

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the changes to the entitlement of non-EU nationals to treatment by British (a) general practitioners and (b) dentists will also apply to children travelling from outside the EU.

John Hutton: The Department is currently consulting on "Proposals to Exclude Overseas Visitors from Eligibility to Free National Health Service (NHS) Primary Medical Services". The consultation ends on 13 August. Copies of the consultation document can be obtained from www.dh.gov.uk/consultation or from the national health service response line on 08701 555455. A copy of the consultation document is available in the Library.
	The proposals are intended to provide clarity regarding the eligibility of overseas visitors, including non-European Union nationals and their dependents, to receive free NHS primary medical services, and therefore apply only to those services provided by general practitioners.
	The consultation does not cover primary dental services.

Health Workers (West Sussex)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health workers were recruited to work in West Sussex in 2003–04, broken down by profession.

Rosie Winterton: The latest available data (September 2003) on the number of health workers employed in West Sussex have been placed in the Library.

Heart Bypass Surgery

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged (a) 25, (b) between 26 and 50, (c) between 51 and 60, (d) between 61 and 70 and (e) 71 years have had heart bypass surgery in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Finished in-year admissions all operations count of episodes for patients treated for coronary artery bypass graft, by age at start of episode—NHS hospitals, England, 2000–02
		
			 Age group 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 All ages 18,980 18,981 20,058 
			 Under 25 10 7 7 
			 25 0 0 3 
			 26–50 1,499 1,405 1,394 
			 51–60 4,711 4,524 4,701 
			 61–70 7,929 7,638 7,865 
			 71 709 764 838 
			 Over 71 4,117 4,636 5,234 
			 Not known 5 7 16 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. A finished in-year admission is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider, excluding admissions beginning before 1 April at the start of the datayear. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	2. All operations count of episodes—these figures represent a count of all finished consultant episodes where the procedure was mentioned in any of the 12 (four prior to 2002–03) operation fields in a hospital episode statistics record. A record is only included once in each count, even if an operation is mentioned in more than one operation field of the record.
	3. Figures are grossed for both coverage and missing/invalid clinical data for 2000–01, but ungrossed for 2001–02 and 2002–03, which are not yet adjusted for shortfalls.
	Source:
	Hospital episode statistics, Department of Health.

Hepatitis B

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the (a) costs and (b) benefits of universal vaccination for hepatitis B.

Melanie Johnson: The joint committee on vaccination and immunisation, the Government's expert advisory committee, is currently reviewing our national hepatitis B immunisation programme. This review will consider whether the programme might need to be expanded or strengthened.

Hepatitis B

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce a vaccination programme in babies for hepatitis B; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: Immunisation is already recommended for babies born to mothers infected with hepatitis B to prevent them developing chronic infection. The joint committee on vaccination and immunisation, the Government's expert advisory committee, is currently reviewing our national hepatitis B immunisation programme. This review will consider whether the programme might need to be expanded or strengthened.

Hospital Appointments

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received about patients having difficulty using call centres to pre-book hospital appointments under pilot pre-booking and patient choice initiatives.

John Hutton: Since the launch of the new national health service "Choose and Book" system in the early adopter sites, the Department has not received any representations from patients, or their carers and representatives, about difficulties using the booking management service call centre.

Hospital Appointments

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what options will be available for patients booking hospital appointments other than via call centres following implementation of the Government's proposals for the pre-booking of hospital appointments.

John Hutton: Under the proposals for electronic booking, patients will be able to book hospital appointments at their local surgery with the help of their general practitioner or the practice staff. Patients will also be able to book their appointments online from home, at an internet kiosk or by telephone through the dedicated call centre.

Hospital Appointments

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance has been issued to primary care trusts on establishing call centres to handle requests for booked appointments in pursuance of the Government's proposals for all hospital appointments to be pre-booked.

John Hutton: The national programme for information technology has issued the following implementation guidance to primary care trusts (PCTs):
	The electronic booking implementation document (March 2003).
	The booking management services resource pack (December 2003).
	The booking management service plan development framework (March 2004).
	These documents provided guidance to PCTs in developing their call centre options so that their patients can book their first hospital outpatient appointment by telephone, if they choose not to book the appointment within the primary care surgery.

Hospital Beds

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 12 July 2004, Official Report, column 931W, on hospital beds, how many hospital beds were available in total in the NHS in England in (a) 1979 and (b) 1997.

John Hutton: The table shows data on the total number of national health service available hospital beds, including both psychiatric and non-psychiatric hospitals.
	The measure, "Average daily number of NHS available hospital beds" refers to the total number of NHS available beds in a year. The yearly total is the average of the daily totals in that year. The term "available" means that the beds are available for patient use.
	
		Thousand
		
			 Average daily number of NHS available hospital beds 
			 Financial year 1979 1997–98 
		
		
			 England(78) 364 194 
		
	
	(78) 1979: calendar year
	Source:
	Annual Abstract of Statistics

Hospital Building

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the Government owe to the private sector with regard to hospital building programmes in (a) England and (b) Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

John Hutton: Under the private finance initiative (PFI), national health service trusts make regular payments (unitary payments) to their private sector partner once the hospital is open; payments are subject to satisfactory performance of the contract. The total PFI unitary payments in 2003–04 were £346 million. This figure includes Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust's unitary payments of £10.5 million and £17.8 million respectively.
	The payments figure does not include schemes with a capital value below £10 million as information on them is not held centrally.

Hospital Building Programme

Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Government are on track to achieve its target of 114 hospitals by 2010; and what the (a) anticipated construction cost, (b) expected date for start of construction and (c) planned date for completion is of each (i) major and (ii) medium-sized building programme.

John Hutton: Currently there are 132 privately financed and public capital funded hospital schemes counting towards the NHS Plan target of 100 new hospital schemes by 2010. 46 of these are already open, so we are well on course to meet this target.
	The tables show the estimated capital value, which incorporates construction costs, start on site and first patient date. Planned financial close dates are given for schemes yet to reach financial close and these are subject to change. The tables include the 15 new projects given the go-ahead by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, on 27 July.
	
		Private finance initiative (PFI) schemes which have reached financial close which are completed and operational
		
			  Capital value (£ million) Start on site First patient date 
		
		
			 Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust 94 30 July 1997 11 September 2000 
			 North Cumbria Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 67 3 November 1997 10 April 2000 
			 Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust 45 14 December 1997 17 October 2000 
			 Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust 96 1 July 1998 28 February 2001 
			 Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust 65 31 July 1998 8 April 2001 
			 County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (North Durham) 61 31 March 1998 2 April 2001 
			 South Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust 67 8 June 1998 25 July 2001 
			 Norfolk and Norwich NHS Trust 158 9 January 1998 21 September 2001 
			 Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust 64 31 March 1999 1 March 2002 
			 Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 87 18 March 1999 18 March 2002 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 54 1 February 1999 2 March 2002 
			 County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (Bishop Auckland) 48 28 May 1999 8 June 2002 
			 Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust 100 5 October 1999 3 December 2002 
			 Leeds Community and Mental Health Services Teaching NHS Trust 47 1 March 2000 16 December 2002 
			 King's Healthcare NHS Trust 76 6 December 1999 7 October 2002 
			 Bromley Healthcare NHS Trust 118 19 November 1998 29 March 2003 
			 Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 22 8 December 2000 29 March 2003 
			 Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust 30 2 May 2001 29 April 2003 
			 West Middlesex University Hospitals NHS Trust 60 30 January 2001 16 May 2003 
			 South Tees Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 122 16 August 1999 1 August 2003 
			 St. George's Hospital NHS Trust 46 20 March 2000 11 September 2003 
			 Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust 15 11 December 1998 30 March 2000 
			 Queens Medical Centre Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust 17 24 May 1999 1 October 2000 
			 West Sussex Health and Social Care Trust 22 24 June 1999 31 January 2001 
			 North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust 28 8 December 1999 1 September 2001 
			 Oxleas NHS Trust 11 4 July 2000 20 December 2001 
			 North East London Mental Health NHS Trust 11 4 July 2000 4 March 2002 
			 North Birmingham Primary Care NHS Trust 18 15 August 2000 18 March 2002 
			 Cornwall Partnerships NHS Trust—Bodmin 10 31 October 2000 1 June 2002 
			 East London and The City Mental Health NHS Trust—Newham 15 5 September 2000 11 June 2002 
			 Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust 15 21 November 2000 9 September 2002 
			 Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust—Wansbeck 18 16 November 2000 25 March 2003 
			 Royston, Buntingford and Bishop Stortford PCT 15 4 May 2001 28 April 2003 
			 Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust 13 20 March 2002 23 June 2003 
			 Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust—Hexham 29 27 April 2001 12 July 2003 
			 Guildford and Waverley PCT—Farnham 29 29 October 2001 1 November 2003 
			 County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust—Chester-le-Street 10 30 May 2002 18 November 2003 
			 Mid Devon PCT—Tiverton 10 1 July 2002 25 May 2004 
			 Newbury & Community PCT 19 4 July 2002 1 March 2004 
			 Total 39 1,832   
		
	
	
		Schemes reached financial close with work started on site
		
			   Start on site First patient date 
		
		
			 University College London Hospitals NHS Trust 422 12 July 2000 April 2005 
			 Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust 137 1 May 2001 December 2004 
			 University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust 379 27 November 2002 May 2006 
			 Gloucestershire Royal NHS Trust 32 1 May 2002 November 2004 
			 Southern Derbyshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 312 12 September 2003 May 2008 
			 East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust—Blackburn 110 9 July 2003 July 2005 
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust 134 19 December 2003 May 2007 
			 Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust 238 15 January 2004 November 2006 
			 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 69 6 November 2003 September 2005 
			 Avon and Western Wiltshire Mental Health NHS Trust 83 1 March 2004 March 2006 
			 Brighton Health Care NHS Trust 36 10 June 2004 April 2007 
			 Brent PCT—Willesden 21 5 December 2002 March 2005 
			 Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland MH—Morpeth 31 10 May 2004 March 2006 
			 Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust—Wharfedale 14 20 September 2002 November 2004 
			 County Durham and Darlington Priority Services NHS Trust—West Park 16 4 July 2003 August 2004 
			 Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre NHS Trust 37 20 April 2002 March 2006 
			 Sandwell and W. Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust— City Hospital 26 9 December 2002 October 2004 
			 Whittington Hospital NHS Trust 32 9 October 2002 December 2004 
			 Newham Healthcare NHS Trust 52 27 January 2004 April 2005 
			 East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust—Burnley 30 13 October 2003 November 2005 
			 Doncaster and South Humber Healthcare NHS Trust 12 11 August 2003 January 2005 
			 Salisbury Health Care NHS Trust 24 4 March 2004 February 2006 
			 North Kirklees PCT 25 21 May 2004 May 2005 
			 Wandsworth PCT—Queen Mary's Roehampton 75 6 May 2004 January 2006 
			 Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust—Stoke Mandeville 47 21 May 2004 June 2006 
			 Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust 51 8 July 2004 September 2006 
			 Total 26 2,445   
		
	
	
		Schemes in negotiation but not yet reached financial close—operational dates yet to be finalised
		
			   Planned financial close 
		
		
			 Barts and The London NHS Trust (remaining Wave 1A) 1,052 2nd Quarter 2005 
			 Central Manchester Healthcare/Manchester Childrens Hospitals NHS Trusts 420 3rd Quarter 2004 
			 Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust 220 4th Quarter 2004 
			 Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 265 3rd Quarter 2004 
			 Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust 192 3rd Quarter 2004 
			 Kingston Hospital 28 4th Quarter 2004 
			 Northampton Community Healthcare 29 3rd Quarter 2005 
			 Addenbrookes NHS Trust 76 3rd Quarter 2004 
			 Northgate and Prudhoe—Neuro Disability Centre 24 1st Quarter 2005 
			 Taunton and Somerset 18 4th Quarter 2004 
			 New Forest PCT— Lymington 36 3rd Quarter 2004 
			 Sheffield Teaching Hospitals 30 4th Quarter 2004 
			 Nottingham Healthcare 19 3rd Quarter 2004 
			 Daventry and South Northamptonshire PCT 24 4th Quarter 2004 
			 Derbyshire Mental Health NHS Trust 32 1st Quarter 2006 
			 East Lincolnshire PCT 24 2nd Quarter 2006 
			 University Hospital Birmingham/South Birmingham MH NHS Trust 379 1st Quarter 2005 
			 North Staffordshire Hospital NHS Trusts 269 4th Quarter 2004 
			 University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust 403 1st Quarter 2005 
			 Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 56 4th Quarter 2004 
			 Mid Yorkshire Hospitals and Wakefield 260 1st Quarter 2005 
			 St. Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust 229 1st Quarter 2005 
			 North Middlesex Hospitals NHS Trust 74 2nd Quarter 2005 
			 Mid Essex Hospitals NHS Trust 110 4th Quarter 2004 
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust 94 4th Quarter 2004 
			 Salford Royal Hospitals NHS Trusts 196 3rd Quarter 2005 
			 Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust 84 3rd Quarter 2005 
			 Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust 50 Under Review 
			 Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust 125 2nd Quarter 2005 
			 Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust 127 3rd Quarter 2005 
			 Peterborough Hospitals NHS Trust 293 4th Quarter 2005 
			 Whipps Cross Hospitals NHS Trust 328 2nd Quarter 2006 
			 Total 32 5,566  
		
	
	
		Schemes which have not yet placed advertisements in the Official Journal of the European Community
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 St. Mary's NHS Trust and Paddington Basin 800 
			 Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust 117 
			 United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust 104 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 76 
			 Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells/Invicta Community Care NHS Trusts 290 
			 Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust 274 
			 Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust 312 
			 Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust 80 
			 South Devon Healthcare NHS Trust 120 
			 East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust 200 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire NHS Trust 880 
			 North Bristol and South Gloucestershire 310 
			 Papworth Hospital NHS Trust 148 
			 Sandwell and West Birmingham Acute Trust 591 
			 Maternity and Childrens Hospital Leeds 204 
			 Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust 271 
			 Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital 121 
			 Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust 52 
			 Tees and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust 73 
			 Taunton Surgical Centre 75 
			 Southend Hospital NHS Trust 100 
			 North Mersey Future Healthcare Project 1008 
			 Cherry Knowle Hospital, Sunderland 50 
			 Northwick Park and St. Marks 305 
			 Total 24 6,561 
			 Total PFI 16,404 
		
	
	
		Public capital funded schemes which are completed and open
		
			   Start on site First patient date 
		
		
			 Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust 24 14 August 1998 1 August 2000 
			 Central Sheffield University Hospitals NHS Trust 24 19 September 1998 1 February 2001 
			 Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospital NHS Trust 84 8 January 1997 27 July 2002 
			 Swale PCT 14 1 December 2000 7 October 2002 
			 West London Mental Health NHS Trust 14 1 December 2000 20 February 2004 
			 Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Trust 12 1 May 2001 16 February 2004 
			 Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust—Royal Albert Edward Infirmary 25 1 November 2000 19 June 2004 
			 Total 7 197   
		
	
	
		Schemes with work started on site/approval to tender
		
			   Start on site First patient date 
		
		
			 Barnet PCT (Edgware Community) 24 1 April 2001 1 October 2004 
			 Guys and St. Thomas NHS Trust 50 19 September 1998 1 January 2005 
			 Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust 12 12 December 2003 1 February 2005 
			 Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust 75   
			 Total 4 161   
			 11 Total Publicly Funded Schemes 358   
			 132 Total PFI and Publicly Funded Schemes 16,762

Hospital Hygiene

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has to improve and update the hospital cleanliness rating system;
	(2)  what proposals he has to amend hospital cleanliness inspections to reflect the disparity between inspection outcomes and patient experience noted in the Healthcare Commission State of Healthcare Report 2004.

John Hutton: The patient environment action team (PEAT) process for measuring hospital cleanliness was redesigned for the 2004 inspection round, following discussions with a number of representative bodies. The number of areas assessed this year was increased from 18 to 24.
	This has significantly extended the information available to hospitals about their performance. A new rating system was designed around a five-point scale and introduced an "excellent" category. The scoring process continues to be weighted in relation to cleanliness issues in wards and accident and emergency departments.
	The new national healthcare standards, published on 21 July, include cleanliness and performance against them will be rated in the Healthcare Commission's annual assessments of national health service bodies in England. The Commission will undertake a review of hospital cleanliness and infection control shortly.

Hospital Hygiene

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has collected on whether the results of hospital cleanliness inspections differ depending on whether they are pre-announced.

John Hutton: Since 2000, all patient environment action team inspections of hospital cleanliness have been unannounced.

Hospital Hygiene

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what data he collects on the (a) cleanliness and (b) hygiene of NHS operating theatres; and if he will publish them.

John Hutton: Information concerning the specific cleanliness and hygiene of operating theatres is not collected centrally. Guidance was issued in the form of a standard measure of cleanliness for hospitals in the national standards of cleanliness 2002 (further revised in 2003). In this guidance, operating theatres are classified as very high risk and it is stressed that constant cleaning is deemed critical.

Hospital Hygiene

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) research he has commissioned and (b) evidence he has collected on the influence of the control of laundering of nurse and medical staff uniforms on hospital-acquired infection rates.

John Hutton: The Department published evidence-based guidelines for the prevention and control of healthcare acquired infection in 2001, which included the standard principles covering the use of personal protective clothing and equipment.
	It is for the chief executives of national health service trusts to ensure that nurses have enough suitable clothing and equipment to carry out their work effectively. The decision as to whether nurses' uniforms are laundered through the hospital laundry services or whether nurses clean the uniforms themselves is made locally.

Hospital Waste Incineration

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the volume of material arising from NHS hospitals which was incinerated (a) on site and (b) elsewhere in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: National Health Service trusts are legally autonomous bodies and they will tender for waste disposal services taking into account local requirements. Data is not collected centrally in relation to the precise method of disposal.

Insulin

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 23 June 2004, Official Report, column 1434W, on insulin, if he will place in the Library details of contacts between his Department and companies that supply insulin.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost, or without breaching commercial confidentiality (exemption 13 of the open government code applies).
	My noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (The Lord Warner), who has responsibility for pharmaceutical industry matters will write to the hon. Member with an overview of the current situation regarding the supply of insulin shortly. A copy of this letter will be placed in the Library.

Insulin

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 28 June 2004, Official Report, column 106W, whether the licensing process compared mortality rates, the development of diabetic complications and the quality of life of those using animal and synthetic insulin; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: All authorised insulins, whether human (synthetic) insulin or animal insulin, have been demonstrated to be efficacious in people with diabetes mellitus. As part of the licensing approval process for any medicinal product, including insulins, the applicant has to provide evidence that the product meets appropriate standards of quality, safety and efficacy. These standards are set out in European Guidance documents, including, for example, "Notes for Guidance on Clinical Investigation of Medicinal Products in the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus" (CPMP/EWP/1080/00). This will include clinical trial data of appropriate duration in patients with diabetes as set out in the guidance document. The primary purpose of the confirmatory studies involving the assessed insulin is to demonstrate a favourable effect on blood glucose control (this is considered clinically relevant in terms of risk reduction of diabetic complications).
	Data on mortality rates, development of diabetic complications and quality of life are not necessarily required for the licensing process. Additionally, there are no requirements for comparative studies between animal and synthetic insulins as part of the licensing process. Therefore, the licensing process has not compared mortality rates, development of diabetic complications or the quality of life of patients using animal and synthetic insulins. After licensing, all drugs, including insulins, are continually monitored for safety. The decision to use one or other of the insulins rests with the physician in consultation with the patient.
	The committee on safety of medicines and its sub-committee on pharmacovigilance (SCOP) have kept the safety of synthetic (human) insulins under close review and have considered the available data on a number of occasions. Most recently in 2002, the SCOP considered the findings of an independent review of controlled clinical trial data by the Cochrane collaboration. The conclusions of the Cochrane review were that there is no difference in blood glucose control or the incidence of adverse events between patients on synthetic insulin compared with patients on animal insulins. The SCOP confirmed its previous advice that there is no clear evidence of a safety problem specific to human insulin.

Intermediate Care

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2004, Official Report, column 158W, on intermediate care, when the validation process of data regarding intermediate care beds and places will be completed.

Stephen Ladyman: The intermediate care data validation process is now complete and the information has been placed in the Library.

Kidney Dialysis

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged (a) 25, (b) between 26 and 50, (c) between 51 and 60, (d) between 61 and 70 and (e) 71 years have received kidney dialysis in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The table shows the latest information from the 2002 renal survey for people who were receiving haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis at 31 December 2002. Figures exclude patients who dialysed during 2002 but were either transplanted or died prior to 31 December 2002.
	Equivalent information for other years is not available.
	
		
			 Age Number of dialysis patients at 31 December 2002 
		
		
			 Under 26 years 554 
			 26–50 years 4,181 
			 51–60 years 3,024 
			 61–70 years 3,741 
			 71 years plus 4,894 
			 Total 16,394

Kidney Disease

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children are being treated for kidney disease.

Rosie Winterton: There were 827 paediatric patients receiving renal replacement therapy for kidney failure in the United Kingdom in 2002, the latest year for which figures are available.

King's College Hospital Foundation Trust

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether, following the decision not to award King's College Hospital Trust foundation status, the elections held so far will be declared void.

John Hutton: holding answer 21 July 2004
	Section 4(1) of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 provides that a national health service trust may make an application to the independent regulator for authorisation to become a NHS foundation trust, if the application is supported by the Secretary of State. Section 4(4)(a) provides that once a NHS trust has made this application, the provisions of the trust's proposed constitution will have effect for the purpose of establishing an initial membership, electing a board of governors and appointing a board of directors, and enabling boards to make preparations for the performance of their functions. Applicant trusts are expected to implement their governance arrangements while the independent regulator considers their application.
	The independent regulator has deferred consideration of the application made by King's College Hospital NHS Trust for authorisation on 1 July. The chairman of the independent regulator has asked the trust to submit further evidence by the end of the year, against which he will consider the application for authorisation. Therefore, prospective NHS foundation trust functions arising from that application continue to exist.

Litigation Expenditure

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer dated 13 July 2004, Official Report, column 1098W, what legal actions involving NHS funds have been initiated over the last five years, excluding those for clinical negligence; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The liabilities to third parties scheme (LTPS) is a risk pooling scheme for national health service trusts, primary care trusts and special health authorities, which provides indemnity for non-clinical risks such as employers' and public liabilities. The scheme was introduced in 1999 and is operated by the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA).
	The table shows information provided by the NHSLA on the number of NHS resources spent on defending and initiating legal actions for non-clinical claims under the LTPS for the last five years.
	
		£
		
			  Defence costs Claimant costs Damages Total 
		
		
			 1999–2000 17,075 7,534 9,218 33,827 
			 2000–01 35,686 265,166 664,608 965,460 
			 2001–02 380,412 1,487,848 3,048,665 4,916,925 
			 2002–03 1,815,517 3,974,607 9,608,353 15,398,477 
			 2003–04 3,214,576 3,643,407 6,881,042 13,739,025 
			 Total 5,463,266 9,378,562 20,211,886 35,053,714 
		
	
	Notes:
	The amounts include funds from the LTPS and trusts' own funds for any excesses for which they may have been liable.
	Trusts may insure outside of the LTPS scheme in certain circumstances. The amounts above do not include costs for insurance taken outside of the LTPS scheme.

Lost/Stolen Departmental Property

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the items that his Department has reported lost or stolen to the police from his Department's buildings and property since 2001.

Rosie Winterton: The table lists the items reported lost or stolen from departmental buildings since January 2001 which have been reported to the police.
	
		
			 Item Number 
		
		
			 Laptops 19 
			 Projectors 2 
			 Printers 3 
			 Digital cameras 1 
			 PC base units 4 
			 Keyboard 1 
			 Mouse 1 
			 Monitors 4 
			 External modem 1 
			 Phone charger 1

Medical Instruments

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 7 June 2004, Official Report, column 160W, on medical instruments, how much of the figure shown for each year was spent on (a) hildebrandt vaginal irrigating tubes, (b) suction curettes diameter 28 cm graduated, (i) 4 mm, (ii) 6 mm, (iii) 8 mm, (iv) 10 mm, (v) 12 mm and (vi) 14 mm and (c) hose connections curved, 11 mm diameter; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Information is only held on vacuum curettes at 8 mm, 10 mm and 12 mm graduation. This is shown in the table. The information on the other instruments requested is not held centrally. The figures provided are based on instrument sales via the national health service purchasing and supply national contracts. These contracts are not mandatory, and therefore some NHS trusts buy instruments from other sources, as possibly are the other instruments in which the hon. Member has expressed an interest. These figures do not, therefore, cover the total NHS spend.
	
		
			  Amount (£) 
		
		
			 2001–01 26,737 
			 2001–02 26,525 
			 2002–03 28,102 
			 2003–04 31,265

Medical Secretaries

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take action to improve the remuneration of medical secretaries throughout the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: Medical secretaries, along with other health workers, will receive a minimum 10 per cent. increase in basic pay over the three years 2003–04 to 2005–06. In addition, subject to a positive outcome of the planned second ballots by some national health service trades unions on the new pay system, many medical secretaries should also benefit under the assimilation arrangements provided by the new system.
	The impact of "Agenda for Change" for all staff groups is currently being tested across 12 early implementer sites to ensure that the new system, which is underpinned by a job evaluation framework, provides a fair and comparable basis of employment for all staff, including medical secretaries.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 27 May 2004, Official Report, column 1836W, on mental health, at what level such information is collected; if he will collect the information centrally in respect of the period sought; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The national confidential inquiry (NCI) into suicide and homicide by people with mental illness collects information nationally on all people who complete suicide who were in contact with mental health services in the 12 months prior to death. In-patients are a priority for the NCI who collect information specifically related to those people who complete suicide whilst in in-patient care.
	The NCI collects data on specific ligature points used for hanging; for example, bed curtain rails, hooks, handles, doors, bed heads and "other'. It does keep a list of "other' ligature points. The question about ligature points has been in the NCI questionnaire since 2000.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures are in place to ensure the safety of (a) patients and (b) the public when electrical power cuts disable automatic door release mechanisms in acute mental health wards; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: National health service trusts are responsible for the safety procedures that apply when there are power cuts in acute mental health wards. NHS Estates produced guidance in 1993, under Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 2011 "Emergency Electrical Services—Management Policy", which is still extant, stating that each NHS site should have and be able to implement emergency procedures.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account is taken of the risk of suicide in guidance given for the building of acute mental health wards; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: Health Building Note 35 (Part 1), published in 1996, is a guide to the accommodation requirements for acute mental health services. It focuses on acute units where patients may be disturbed or suicidal. It provides guidance on general functional and design requirements and stresses the need for the provision of a safe and therapeutic environment that helps patients feel at ease.

Midwives

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what actions his Department has taken to encourage a return to NHS practice by those who had previously worked in the NHS as midwives; how many such individuals have returned to practice in each year since 1992; what targets have been set in this area; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: All midwives deciding to return to the national health service are eligible for a returners package including a £1,500 bursary to support them whilst they are retraining. There is also financial support for childcare, travel and books. The chief nursing officer has contacted former midwives by letter to encourage them to return to the NHS. To support this, the Department allocated £750,000 to workforce development confederations in 2003–04 to fund 500 return to practice places for midwives. To encourage returners, a new NHS careers return to practice guide for midwives was published in January 2004. Copies are available in the Library. In addition, the Department has funded the Royal College of Midwives, in collaboration with Open University, to design a flexible return to practice open learning programme.
	Since the national return to practice programme commenced in 1999, over 17,000 former nurses, midwives and health visitors have returned to the NHS. Data for the period prior to 1999 is not available.

Milk

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies he has (a) commissioned and (b) reviewed concerning the presence of rocket fuel in milk.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 5 July 2004
	The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has monitored a number of environmental contaminants in milk. The FSA has not commissioned or reviewed studies on the presence in milk of rocket fuel.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the availability through the NHS of respite care for sufferers of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME); what comparative assessment has been made of the level of respite care available in different regions; how much funding has been allocated on average per strategic health authority for the provision of respite care for sufferers of ME in this financial year; and what funding has been allocated to Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority for this purpose in this financial year.

Stephen Ladyman: We do not collect information on the provision of respite care for people with specific illnesses. No specific funding is allocated to the national health service for the provision of respite services. It is for primary care trusts, in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders, to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services.

National Poisons Information Service

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether any of the poisons information specialists at the National Poisons Information Service and the West Midlands Poisons Unit, received income from agrochemical companies; what disclosure systems are in place, including for patients; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: No member of the medical, scientific (including poisons information specialists) and nursing staff of the National Poisons Information Service, Birmingham centre and the associated clinical unit, the West Midlands Poisons Unit, has ever received income or any other funds from agrochemical companies.

National Service Framework for Older People

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department will publish its review of the April 2004 milestones for the National Service Framework for Older People; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department will not be publishing a review of the April 2004 milestones in the national service framework (NSF) for older people. However, the Healthcare Commission is currently conducting an inspection of implementation of the NSF and will release its findings in 2005.

New Hospitals

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2004, Official Report, column 1100W, on new hospitals, what each of the 46 new hospital schemes entails.

John Hutton: The table gives brief details for each of the 46 schemes as requested.
	
		
			 Trust Description 
		
		
			 North Cumbria Acute Hospitals National Health Service Trust Redevelopment of District General Hospital (DGH) scheme to replace much of the existing accommodation. 
			 Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust New DGH hospital on Darent Valley site. 
			 South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust Rationalisation of DGH acute services onto two sites at Wycombe and Amersham. 
			 Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust Refurbishment and new-build of a DGH at Greenwich. 
			 North Durham Health Care NHS Trust New DGH for North Durham on existing Dryburn site 
			 Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust Rationalisation of DGH acute services and refurbishment of existing hospital site in Halifax 
			 South Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust Redevelopment of existing DGH on Wythenshawe site 
			 Norfolk and Norwich NHS Trust New DGH 
			 Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust New DGH together with refurbishment of some existing wards. 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust Rationalisation of services across the existing Barnet DGH site 
			 Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust New DGH 
			 South Durham Healthcare NHS Trust Redevelopment and refurbishment of existing DGH site in Bishop Auckland 
			 King's Healthcare NHS Trust New Clinical Block and refurbishment of some existing stock on DGH site. 
			 Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust New DGH 
			 Leeds Community and Mental Health Services Teaching NHS Trust Relocation of mental health services into seven, modern, purpose-built facilities enabling the closure of poor quality Victorian institutional design buildings. 
			 Bromley Healthcare NHS Trust New DGH 
			 Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust New three-storey building to accommodate gynaecology, obstetric and neonatal services at Hull Royal Infirmary 
			 Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust New mental health hospital. 
			 West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust Redevelopment of DHG site 
			 South Tees Acute Hospitals NHS Trust Extension of existing South Cleveland hospital to centralise acute hospital services onto single site. 
			 St. George's Hospital NHS Trust New Building for Neurosurgery and Cardiac Services 
			 Rochdale Primary Care NHS Trust New development on Rochdale Infirmary site. 
			 Central Sheffield University Hospitals NHS Trust New maternity facility 
			 Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospitals NHS Trust Consolidation of DGH acute services on a single site. 
			 Queen Mary's Hospital Sidcup NHS Trust Reprovision of Bexley Mental Health Services 
			 Queens Medical Centre Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust New ENT and Opthalmology Unit 
			 West Sussex Health and Social Care Trust Reprovision of Mental Health Services 
			 North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust Reprovision of Mental Health Services 
			 Oxleas NHS Trust Reprovision of Mental Health Services 
			 North East London Mental Health NHS Trust Reprovision of Mental Health Services 
			 Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust Reprovision of Mental Health Services 
			 Cornwall Partnerships NHS Trust New clinical oncology department at Bodwin 
			 East London and The City Mental Health NHS Trust Reprovision of Mental Health Services in Newham 
			 Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust New wing for the provision of all therapy and elderly care services. 
			 Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust Centralisation of acute and maternity services at Wansbeck DGH 
			 Royston, Buntingford and Bishop Stortford PCT Hertford and Essex hospital redevelopment 
			 Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust New heart centre 
			 Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust Redevelopment of Hexham DGH 
			 Guildford and Waverley PCT NHS Local Care Centre for intermediate care, outpatient, diagnostic, mental health and community services linked with social service facilities and local GP facilities in Farnham. 
			 County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust New Community Hospital in Chester-le-Street 
			 Newbury and Community PCT New Community Hospital 
			 Mid Devon PCT New Community Hospital in Tiverton 
			 Swale PCT New Community Hospital in Sheppey 
			 West London Mental Health NHS Trust Charing Cross Mental Health Unit 
			 Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Trust New Women and Children's Unit at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital 
			 Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust Phase IV development to Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, Wigan

NHS Commercial Activity

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what controls regulate the distribution within NHS premises of commercial products to patients where the giving of permission to distribute generates an income stream for NHS trusts.

John Hutton: Income generation schemes are those that rely on Section 7(1) of the Health and Medicines Act 1988. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State has delegated these income generating powers to all national health service trusts, including ambulance and mental health trusts, primary care trusts and strategic health authorities. Guidance, clearly setting out under what circumstances income generation powers can be used, was issued to the NHS in November 2001. A copy of the guidance is available in the Library.

NHS Direct (Isle of Wight/Hampshire)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many calls were received by NHS Direct in the Isle of Wight and Hampshire in each month since the facility opened; and what categories of information he collects about the types of (a) call received and (b) response given.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 22 July 2004
	The available information concerning calls received by the NHS Direct call centre serving Hampshire and the Isle of Wight since November 2001 is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Month and year Hampshire and the Isle of Wight—calls answered 
		
		
			 2001  
			 November 19,025 
			 December 23,691 
			 2002  
			 January 24,876 
			 February 19,804 
			 March 20,196 
			 April 20,153 
			 May 21,008 
			 June 20,996 
			 July 21,775 
			 August 22,497 
			 September 19,742 
			 October 21,184 
			 November 21,156 
			 December 25,090 
			 2003  
			 January 24,542 
			 February 18,723 
			 March 25,342 
			 April 25,425 
			 May 23,553 
			 June 23,391 
			 July 26,776 
			 August 24,054 
			 September 21,564 
			 October 23,592 
			 November 25,697 
			 December 25,364 
			 2004  
			 January 25,192 
			 February 21,994 
			 March 24,809 
			 April 24,514 
			 May 24,844 
			 June 22,732 
			 Total 751,187

NHS Direct (Isle of Wight/Hampshire)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who took the decision to locate the NHS Direct call centre which serves the Isle of Wight and Hampshire in Southampton; when the decision was taken; when the facility opened; how many full-time equivalent staff were employed there in each year since opening; what criteria were used in determining its location; what the cost of (a) the premises and (b) staffing is in the current financial year; whether the staff are directly employed by the national health service; how many are on each grade; what the cost was of furnishing and equipping the premises; and what other premises were considered.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 22 July 2004
	Due to an increase in call volumes and the success of the pilot NHS Direct service for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, the existing premises at Highcroft in Winchester, which had been the location of the initial call centre since March 1999, were considered to be unsuitable for the growth of the service. In February 2001, the NHS Direct management team within the Department, in consultation with external estates advisers and NHS Estates, decided to locate a new call centre at Berrywood Business Village, Hedge End. The selection criteria used for deciding the location of the new call centre included access by public and private transport and security for staff attending and leaving work. The new call centre was opened in September 2001. Other locations considered were Silver Hill in Winchester, Link 414 in Chandlers Ford, Easton Lane in Winchester and Belbins Business Park in Romsey.
	The cost of furnishing and equipping the premises was £1.6 million. Current accommodation costs and capital charges are £750,000 per year.
	There are currently 136 whole time equivalent (wte) staff employed by the NHS Direct special health authority at the call centre. 58 of the staff are nurses (G grade), 47 are health information advisers (administrative and clerical 5) and the rest are managers or support staff. Staffing costs for the current financial year are £4.53 million. Staff numbers in previous years were 125 (wte) in 2001–02, 140 (wte) in 2002–03 and 140 (wte) in 2003–04.

NHS Health and Safety

Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether the Government achieved their target of eradicating the fire safety backlog on the NHS estate by March 2003;
	(2)  what further progress has been made towards meeting his earlier target of making 90 per cent. of the NHS estate health and safety compliant by March;
	(3)  what percentage of the NHS estate was health and safety compliant and what the cost was of the health and safety repair backlog, in (a) March 2003 and (b) March 2004.

John Hutton: Trusts that did not report full compliance will cover a wide variety of conditions, including that which is only just below standard. At 31 March 2003, 9 per cent. of patient-occupied floor area was below health and safety compliance and 7.10 per cent, below statutory fire safety standards.
	Trusts manage high-risk deficiencies as a priority in order to ensure that premises are intrinsically safe and not of concern to local enforcement bodies.
	The cost of the health and safety repair backlog is currently being validated and on completion I will write to my hon. Friend.

NHS Improvement Plan

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  for what reason there are targets in the NHS improvement plan for reducing deaths from some medical conditions but not others; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  for what reason the NHS improvement plan target for reducing deaths from (a) heart disease, (b) stroke and (c) cancer is limited to those aged under 75 years.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 13 July 2004
	Deaths from coronary heart disease, stroke and cancer account for around 65 per cent. of all deaths each year—346,792 in England and Wales in 2002.
	Targets for these conditions are included in the NHS Improvement Plan, as they are the major killers and the Government wishes to focus on tackling those diseases, which will have the greatest impact on public health.
	The impact of preventative and treatment measures in coronary heart disease, stroke and cancer is more likely to be demonstrated in changing trends of those aged under 75. These changes can only be demonstrated using robust data, which is suitable for international comparisons. The quality of assignment of cause of death is stronger for people under age 75 and we have focused the targets on them.
	We are committed to ensuring that treatment should be available based on clinical need and there should not be discrimination of any kind. It is important to note that monitoring activity is not restricted to the age range of the target and we will continue to monitor closely trends for those over the age of 75.

NHS IT Programme

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the gateway review of the elements of the National Programme for IT in the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: I have no current plans to do so.
	The Office of Government Commerce Gateway process is an integral part of the assurance mechanism for ensuring that large-scale procurement projects and programmes meet prescribed planning and governance requirements and that they can progress successfully to the next stage. Gateway reports, in the form of advice guidance from experienced practitioners, are provided at key stages in a project or programme's development cycle. They are made direct to the senior responsible owner (SRO) and are confidential in order not to impair the value of the advice. The SRO has responsibility for ensuring that any recommendations are addressed before the project is permitted to proceed.

NHS Number

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he intends to make the NHS Number a general identifier as defined by the Data Protection Act 1998; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: National health service numbers are assigned to all patients who receive NHS care, and underpin the development of electronic care records. Departmental officials have formed the view that the widespread use of the NHS number means that it is a "general identifier" within the meaning of the European data protection directive and the United Kingdom Data Protection Act and therefore formal regulations should be introduced to regulate its use.

NHS Overspend (South-east)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the NHS over-spend in the South East was in 2003–04.

Rosie Winterton: Audited accounts information for 2003–04 will not be available centrally until autumn 2004.

NHS Professionals

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the budget of National Health Service Professionals was in financial year 2003–04; and what its main sources of revenue were;
	(2)  what audit arrangements are in place in respect of National Health Service Professionals;
	(3)  why it is his policy to exclude National Health Service Professionals from the process of audit by the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency that is applied to commercial recruitment agencies;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the (a) performance, (b) effectiveness and (c) value for money delivered by National Health Service Professionals.

John Hutton: NHS Professionals was operating through various national health service bodies until 1 January 2004, when it was established as a special health authority (SHA) in shadow form. From 1 April 2004 it became a fully established SHA. The Department was NHS Professionals' main source of funding in 2003–04. Anticipated investment was £22 million in the financial year 2003–04. NHS Professionals will be audited by the National Audit Office for 2003–04 and accounts for the period it was in shadow form in 2003–04 will be published shortly.
	The NHS Purchasing and Supplies Agency will audit NHS Professionals' compliance with the standards laid down in the agency framework agreements in exactly the same way that it audits compliance by commercial agencies.
	The Department has set up formal performance review arrangements with NHS Professionals. The benefits from the establishment of NHS Professionals will be achieved by reduced costs and higher standards in the recruitment and development of temporary staff. NHS trusts have already seen a reduction in temporary staffing costs and improvement in bank fill rates due to NHS Professionals. Local agency agreements have also saved an estimated £50 million over the past year.

NHS Professionals

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence of fraud he has collated in the running of NHS Professionals; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: No evidence of fraud has been collated in the running of NHS Professionals but any cases relating to individuals registered with NHS Professionals are dealt with by the national health service counter fraud and security management service (CFSMS).
	NHS Professionals is in the process of drawing up a counter fraud charter with the CFSMS.

NHS Repairs

Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Government achieved their target of reducing disrepair on the NHS estate by 25 per cent. between April 1999 and March 2004; what the total repair backlog on the NHS estate was in (a) March 2003 and (b) March 2004; and if this information is not currently available, when will he make it available.

Rosie Winterton: NHS estates collects data on backlog maintenance from national health service trusts through its estates return information collection. The latest data relate to 2002–03 and this remains the subject of a statistical validation exercise, which will be completed shortly. Once the validation exercise is complete I will write to my hon. Friend.

NHS Staff

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average salary for NHS (a) chief executives and (b) chairmen was in each year since 1997.

John Hutton: Information about the pay of national health service chief executives is not held centrally by the Department.
	Information about the remuneration of NHS chairs has been held by the NHS appointments commission since its inception in April 2001.
	The remuneration for NHS chairs since 2001–02 is shown in the table.
	
		£
		
			  Band 1 Band 2 Band 3 
		
		
			 2001–02 20,420 18,154 16,017 
			 2002–03 20,930 18,608 16,407 
			 2003–04 21,453 19,073 16,827 
			 2004–05 21,882 19,454 17,164 
		
	
	Remuneration for NHS chairs was handled by the Department until April 2001 when the NHS appointments commission was established. Remuneration for NHS chairs from 1997–98 to 2000–01 is shown in the table.
	
		£
		
			  Band 1 Band 2 Band 3 
		
		
			 1997–98 19,285 17,145 15,125 
			 1998–99 19,285 17,145 15,125 
			 1999–2000 19,825 17,625 15,550 
			 2000–01 19,825 17,625 15,550 
		
	
	For 2001–02, the remuneration of chairs of primary care trusts (PCTs) was:
	Level 4: £12,967
	Level 3: £10,373
	Given the new responsibilities and anticipated time commitments of PCT chairs, their remuneration was increased to the same level, and on the same banding basis as NHS trusts, from 1 April 2002.

NHS Staff

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money was spent by the NHS on agency staff in Leicester South in each year since 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		Expenditure on total non-national health service staff—1997–98 to 2002–03 -- Expenditure (£)
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Leicestershire Royal Infirmary NHS Trust 585,888 897,878 1,600,196 — — — 
			 Leicester General Hospital NHS Trust 710,045 917,586 1,223,520 — — — 
			 Glenfield Hospital NHS Trust 139,214 343,663 448,662 — — — 
			 University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust — — — 4,673,825 6,734,372 8,218,180 
			 Eastern Leicester PCT — — — n/a 106,895 151,238 
			 South Leicestershire PCT — — — n/a n/a 155,162 
		
	
	Sources:
	1. Annual financial returns of NHS trusts, 1997–98 to 2002–03.
	2. Annual financial returns of primary care trusts, 2001–02 to 2002–03.

NHS Staff

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff vacancies there were in the NHS in Leicestershire in each year since 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Department of Health vacancies survey, 1999–2004 -- Vacancies in the Leicestershire Health Authority area by trust and by all staff groups.Three month vacancy rates and numbers
		
			  1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Leicestershire Health Authority (1999–2001) and Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland SHA (2002–2004) 3 month vacancy rate (per centage) 3 month vacancy number 3 month vacancy rate (percentage) 3 month vacancy number 3 month vacancy rate (percentage) 3 month vacancy number 
			 GP44  89 
			 Consultant and other Doctors (excluding Doctors in training) 3.10 13 (81)— (81)—  0 
			 All nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff (excluding HA staff) 0.6 37 2.2 131 0.8 47 
			 All scientific, therapeutic and technical staff (excluding HA staff) 0.6 11 0.9 17 0.1 2 
			 All other staff (excluding HA staff) 0.1 5 1.1 41 0.1 3 
		
	
	
		
			  2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Leicestershire Health Authority (1999–2001) and Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland SHA (2002–2004) 3 month vacancy rate (per centage) 3 month vacancy number 3 month vacancy rate (percentage) 3 month vacancy number 3 month vacancy rate (percentage) 3 month vacancy number 
			 GP  123(79)  85(80)   
			 Consultant and other Doctors (excluding Doctors in training) 1.70 9  0 3.40 20 
			 All nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff (excluding HA staff) 3.0 285 2.8 281 1.7 192 
			 All scientific, therapeutic and technical staff (excluding HA staff) 3.3 98 3.4 112 2.8 78 
			 All other staff (excluding HA staff) 0.2 17 0.6 47 1.2 97 
		
	
	(79) In 2002,1 HA in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland did not respond to the survey. No figures for PCTs are available before 2003 as previous years vacancy numbers were collected from Health Authorities. Vacancy numbers for each year refer to the number of vacancies occuring in the 12 month period between 1 April and 31 March.
	(80) Vacancy numbers for Leicestershire PCTs (3) 2000 data not available.
	(81) 2000 data not available.

Nurse Employment

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of experienced senior nurses who are not currently employed and are available for recruitment as community matrons.

John Hutton: Our work force modelling takes account of the 200,000 nurses whose Nursing and Midwifery Council registration has lapsed. There are established routes for nurses not currently working to return to the national health service. We expect that experienced nurses currently working in the NHS will fill the majority of the community matron posts after they have received the appropriate training and development.

Nurse Employment

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurse training places there were in England in (a) 1979 and (b) 1997.

John Hutton: Information on the number of training places for nurses and midwives in 1979 is not available. In 1996–97, there were 14,984 pre-registration training places for nurses and midwives.

Nurses' Uniforms

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what system of monitoring is carried out by NHS trusts to ensure nurses' uniforms laundered domestically are free from infection; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the policy is in NHS trusts on the laundering of nurses' uniforms by individuals at home; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what proportion of nurses' uniforms in NHS trusts are laundered (a) at home and (b) under contract arrangements;
	(4)  what the policy is in NHS trusts on the wearing by nurses of their hospital uniform while travelling to and from their place of work.

John Hutton: It is the responsibility of each national health service trust to determine its own policies regarding the supply, laundering and wearing of uniforms by nurses. The trust's chief executive has responsibility for ensuring that nurses have enough suitable clothing and equipment to carry out their work effectively. Generally, nurses would use protective clothing, such as aprons and gloves to prevent soiling of their uniforms. We are not aware of any evidence that uniforms are a significant source of hospital infections.
	Information relating to the proportion of nurses' uniforms that are laundered at home or under contract arrangements is not collected centrally.

Nurses' Uniforms

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether HSG (95) 18 applies to the laundering of nurses' uniforms; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  at what temperatures nurses' uniforms should be laundered to ensure they are free from bacteria; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what research his Department has carried out to establish whether domestic washing machines are capable of washing nurses' uniforms to the required hygiene standards; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: Health Service Guidelines, reference (HSG(95)18), set out in detail the proper procedures for the handling of used and infected laundry and linen, including uniforms.
	The Department has not carried out research related to domestic washing machines. However, the advice from microbiologists is that a wash at a domestic washer temperature of 60 degrees C, followed by a rinse cycle, is more than adequate to ensure the removal of bacteria.

Operations

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations were carried out in NHS hospitals in each of the past five years.

John Hutton: Recent trends in operations carried out in hospital both as in-patients and out-patients for General and Acute specialties are available in the statistical supplement—Chief Executive's Bulletin of May 2004 [table 3.5.5], which is available in the Library. Detailed information by different operations is available from hospital episode statistics also on the Department's website.

Orchards

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to exclude grazing animals from fruit orchards.

Melanie Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Maldon and East Chelmsford (Mr. Whittingdale) on 15 July 2004, Official Report, column 1299W.

Paediatric Consultants

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) male and (b) female paediatric consultants work in the NHS, shown by (i) headcount and (ii) whole time equivalent.

John Hutton: Information on the number of headcount and whole time equivalent consultants in the paediatric group working in the national health service broken down by gender is shown in the table.
	
		Hospital, public health medicine and community health services (HCHS)—consultants within the paediatric group of specialties, by gender. England, as at 31 December 2003
		
			  All consultants Male Female 
		
		
			 Paediatric group
			 Number 1,821 1,085 736 
			 Whole time equivalents 1,650 1,008 642 
			 
			 of which:
			 Paediatric cardiology   
			 Number 68 57 11 
			 Whole time equivalents 61 53 8 
			 
			 Paediatrics
			 Number 1,753 1,028 725 
			 Whole time equivalents 1,589 954 634 
		
	
	Note:
	The paediatric group comprises of specialties of paediatric cardiology and paediatrics.
	Source:
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce census.

Patientline

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what costs to patients are incurred by (a) registering with Patientline and (b) making a request for a bedside television set to be switched off;
	(2)  whether patients have been charged for (a) registering with Patientline and (b) making a request for bedside televisions to be switched off.

John Hutton: There are no costs to patients for either registering with Patientline or making a request for a bedside television set to be switched off and no such charges have been levied in the past.

Patientline

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the services offered by Patientline, including costs to patients.

John Hutton: The table shows the range of services provided by Patientline to patients and the cost of those services.
	
		
			 Services Cost 
		
		
			 Radio (typically six stations) No charge at any time 
			 Television (typically 16 channels) Free for one hour per day and to children aged 16 or under at all times. TV viewing costs £3.20 to £3.50 for a day's viewing, with concessions for those aged 60 years or over, or those in hospital for longer periods. 
			 Outgoing telephone calls 10 pence per minute (minimum 20 pence) for all local and national calls to fixed lines; charges for calls to mobiles, overseas numbers and special numbers vary. 
			 Internet and email 4 pence per minute 
			 Games 50 pence per game

Patientline

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many requests have been made to Patientline for bedside television sets to be switched off.

John Hutton: The Patientline service has been operational for over nine years and is currently being used by some 40,000 patients each day. We are advised by Patientline that during this time requests to turn the units off have never been significant; therefore the company has not recorded how many requests have been made.
	All units are capable of being turned off by patients registered on the system, using the on/off switch located on the front of the terminal 2 units and all of those currently being manufactured. In the case of the earlier models—terminal 1 units—a sequence of buttons can be used. Terminals where there is no patient registered on the system can be switched off by Patientline staff at any time, if a request is made to do so.

Pesticides

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what updated information has been received from pesticide companies by the National Poisons Information Service for their pesticide product database since 31 March 1998; what toxicological details it contained; and if he will publish the information.

Melanie Johnson: The National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) requests and receives several thousand safety data sheets annually from pesticide companies. These data sheets are circulated monthly to all NPIS centres as the pesticide product database. The pesticide product database contains only safety data sheets, which are in the public domain. The NPIS Birmingham centre regularly requests from companies additional and detailed toxicological information on specific formulations, some of which is commercially sensitive.

Policies (Environmental Impact)

John Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new policy proposals or significant changes in policy were produced in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04; how many of these were screened for their environmental impacts; and how many were the subject of separate environmental appraisals.

Rosie Winterton: The Department published 17 regulatory impact assessments (RIAs) in 2002–03 and 18 in 2003–04. In preparing RIAs, Cabinet Office guidance states that Departments should cover the full range of potential impacts on all stakeholders—including environmental impacts where relevant.
	The Department's NHS Estates Agency has published a guidance document, "Sustainable Development in the NHS" (June 2001, updated February 2003), to help hospital trusts identify environmental impacts when they are setting their policies and procedures in key areas, such as waste, energy, transport, water and procurement.
	In addition the Department's Purchasing and Supplies Agency carries out environmental appraisals of its major policies and activities.

Portable Nebulisers

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is in respect of the supply of portable nebulisers by the NHS free of charge.

Rosie Winterton: Portable nebulisers are not available on National Health Service prescription from general practitioners, but are available free of charge, on loan from primary care and NHS trusts.
	We think that it is most appropriate for them to remain as NHS property to monitor their usage and ensure that NHS resources are used most effectively.

Prescription Drugs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients are receiving prescriptions for (a) Donepezil (Aricept), (b) Rivastigmine (Exelon) and (c) Galantamine (Remings).

Stephen Ladyman: No information is available on the number of patients who receive prescriptions for donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine. However, the number of prescription items that were dispensed in the community in 2003 in England were:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Donepezil Hydrochloride 254,100 
			 Galantamine 51,500 
			 Rivastigmine 45,000

Primary Care Trust Mergers

David Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is regarding the use of financial savings made in one component trust to offset excessive expenditure in another where the managements of previously autonomous primary care trusts are merged to form a trust cluster.

John Hutton: holding answer 22 July 2004
	There is no national policy regarding the use of financial savings by each component trust where the management arrangements of adjacent primary care trusts (PCTs) are shared. This is a local issue, for consideration by PCTs with support from their respective strategic health authority.
	Where the management arrangements for PCTs are shared, PCTs will continue to be considered separate for financial management purposes and consequently underspends generated in one trust cannot be automatically used to offset overspends in another trust.

Prisons

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether primary care trusts will be required to fund the post of prison healthcare officers; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Within the framework set out in the NHS plan and the "Shifting the Balance of Power" initiative, decisions about funding for local health services, including those in prisons after the transfer of commissioning responsibility, are made by primary care trusts, in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders.

Radiologists/Biomedical Scientists

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) radiologists and (b) biomedical scientists have been recruited into the NHS in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The data requested are shown in the table. 
	
		National health service hospital, public health medicine and community health services: biomedical scientists and medical and dental staff with a specialty in clinical radiology in England as at 30 September each year -- Headcount
		
			  Biomedical scientists All medical and dental staff with a specialty in clinical radiology of which: Consultant 
		
		
			 1999 12,714 2,164 1,507 
			 2000 12,379 2,303 1,585 
			 2001 12,742 2,454 1,645 
			 2002 13,117 2,538 1,702 
			 2003 12,898 2,693 1,810 
		
	
	Sources:
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.
	Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census.
	Since 1999, the number of biomedical scientists employed in the national health service has increase by 184 or 1.4 per cent., the overall number of qualified staff working in pathology in the NHS has increased by 1,466 or 9 per cent. and the numbers working in support to these staff has increased by 2,221 or 25 per cent.
	In terms of the medical work force, the number of clinical radiology staff has increased by 529 or 24 per cent. and the numbers of consultant clinical radiologists specifically have increased by 303 or 20 per cent. since 1999.
	Furthermore, training places for biomedical scientists are being increased considerably to ensure increases in the work force in future years. Latest figures from strategic health authorities (SHAs) suggest that in 2003–04, around 200 or 74 per cent. more biomedical scientist students were supported by SHAs than were the previous year.
	We are also ensuring that trained specialists are available in the future by investing in training places. We have centrally funded 186 additional specialist registrar places in clinical radiology between 2002–03 and 2005–06.

Reciprocal Health Care Arrangements

Ian Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reciprocal health care arrangements are in place between the UK and other EU states; how many people were treated under these arrangements in the UK in each of the last five years, broken down by region; and what the cost of this arrangement to the UK was for each of the past five years, broken down by region.

John Hutton: holding answer 20 July 2004
	Regulations (EEC) 1408/71 and 574/72 co-ordinate the social security and health care schemes of the European economic area countries (EEA). These regulations apply to employed or self-employed people and pensioners who are insured for health care under the state health system of a member state. The regulations provide, among other things, for health care for persons temporarily visiting another member state, referrals of patients specifically for treatment in another member state and health care for pensioners who relocate to another member state. Non-employed persons are also covered but only for health care during temporary visits.
	Member states reimburse each other for treatments given to each others people. The following table shows costs for the last four years. Numbers of patients treated are not available since claims may cover several episodes of care for a single individual. No data are available on patients' United Kingdom region of origin.
	
		Table 1: UK obligation under the (EEC) Regulation 1408/71—Resource estimates -- £000
		
			  Member states claims against the United Kingdom UK claims against member states 
		
		
			 1999–2000 176,400 26,500 
			 2000–01 188,000 25,000 
			 2001–02 231,900 31,300 
			 2002–03 249,700 31,500 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are based on latest available information and used in the 2002–03 Resource Accounting and Budgeting (RAB) outturn exercise. This information is compiled in line with the requirements of "Government Accounting 2000" and National Audit Office (NAO). Information for 1998–99 is not on a comparable basis.
	2. Claims against UK are made in national currency and converted in sterling by using the quarterly mean exchange rates published by the Commission.

Refurbishment Costs

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of refurbishment of Department of Health owned buildings has been since May 1997.

Rosie Winterton: For the seven years until 31 March 2004, the cost of refurbishment of the Department of Health's owned buildings has been as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1997–98 1,980,802 
			 1998–99 1,271,733 
			 1999–00 1,453,483 
			 2000–01 652,456 
			 2001–02 559,009 
			 2002–03 1,874,284 
			 2003–04 2,613,000 
			 Total: 10,404,767

Seroxat

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason the manufacturers of Seroxat were permitted to market that product in a 30 mg tablet size.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Tim Loughton) on 21 June 2004, Official Report, column 1268W.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many teenagers were treated for sexually transmitted diseases in (a) England, (b) each region and (c) each strategic health authority in each year since 1996.

Melanie Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave him on 1 March 2004, Official Report, column 709W and on 25 March 2004, Official Report, column 1067W. I regret, however, that investigation has revealed that the data previously provided, on 1 March at column 709W in respect of strategic health authorities, was incorrect. Revised data are shown in the table.
	
		New diagnoses of selected sexually transmitted infections (STIs)(82)in teenagers (under 20 years of age) by strategic health authority (SHA) in England, 1995–2002
		
			 SHA 1995 1996 1997 1998 
		
		
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 848 862 1,051 1,090 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 465 450 578 626 
			 Birmingham and the Black Country 857 1,048 1,228 1,139 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 884 987 1,164 1,292 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley 332 375 485 535 
			 Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire 520 570 652 698 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 629 677 882 878 
			 Dorset and Somerset 373 416 516 606 
			 Essex 398 409 544 582 
			 Greater Manchester 1,052 1,283 1,519 1,668 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 538 635 764 833 
			 Kent and Medway 397 510 490 560 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland 652 643 804 842 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 699 809 912 1,052 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern 514 637 730 723 
			 North Central London 535 678 706 940 
			 North East London 596 696 858 950 
			 North West London 837 861 955 1,016 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 738 837 947 947 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 502 533 597 688 
			 South East London 1,192 1,329 1,413 1,653 
			 South West London 318 497 622 723 
			 South West Peninsula 457 549 630 722 
			 South Yorkshire 938 1,150 1,359 1,331 
			 Surrey and Sussex 508 700 815 958 
			 Thames Valley 621 797 885 1,054 
			 Trent 1,409 1,523 1,909 1,864 
			 West Yorkshire 939 925 1,128 1,385 
			 England total 18,748 21,386 25,143 27,355 
		
	
	
		
			 SHA 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 1,147 1,288 1,340 1,398 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 779 830 872 870 
			 Birmingham and the Black Country 1,373 1,441 2,098 2,347 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 1,506 1,706 1,840 2,241 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley 618 578 606 764 
			 Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire 718 864 891 898 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 1,132 1,197 1,325 1,596 
			 Dorset and Somerset 624 760 753 855 
			 Essex 783 759 919 937 
			 Greater Manchester 2,025 2,218 2,464 2,494 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 1,184 1,325 1,117 1,212 
			 Kent and Medway 627 626 571 689 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland 887 1,239 1,072 1,185 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 1,117 1,222 1,295 1,463 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern 639 678 912 1,278 
			 North Central London 856 975 1,250 1,398 
			 North East London 989 1,271 1,561 1,759 
			 North West London 1,163 1,816 1,833 1,755 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 1,083 1,144 1,086 1,163 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 812 879 985 1,051 
			 South East London 1,805 1,755 1,850 1,871 
			 South West London 906 1,228 1,253 1,476 
			 South West Peninsula 811 880 886 980 
			 South Yorkshire 1,454 1,544 1,567 1,847 
			 Surrey and Sussex 990 1,122 1,185 1,484 
			 Thames Valley 1,086 1,248 1,411 1,423 
			 Trent 1,910 1,959 2,005 2,241 
			 West Yorkshire 1,522 1,536 1,944 2,275 
			 England total 30,546 34,088 36,891 40,950 
		
	
	(82) STIs for which age group data is collected: infectious syphilis, uncomplicated gonorrhoea, genital herpes, genital warts.
	Source:
	Health Protection Agency, KC60 returns.

Shared Services Special Health Authority

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to establish a shared services special health authority; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: There are no plans to establish a shared services special health authority.

Slaughter Processes

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that all meat or meat products on sale which are the result of a slaughter process where pre-stunning has been absent are required to be labelled accordingly.

Melanie Johnson: There is currently no requirement in United Kingdom law to provide the method of slaughter on labels. The Government recognise that some consumers may wish to have access to this information. This issue was one of the points raised by the Farm Animal Welfare Council's report on welfare at slaughter, the Government's response to which went out to public consultation. The Food Standards Agency will consider the responses to that consultation before deciding what action it might take on this issue. In the interim industry may wish to consider voluntary labelling to assist consumer choice in this area.

St. Helens and Knowsley Hospital Trust

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the revenue and capital budgets were for the St. Helens and Knowsley Hospital Trust for each year from 1997 to 2004.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is not available in the format requested.
	Information on revenue budgets for the national health service trust is only available for 1998–99 onwards. The revenue budget for the St. Helens and Knowsley Hospital NHS Trust is shown in the table.
	
		£
		
			  Amount 
		
		
			 1998–99 104,391,000 
			 1999–2000 112,857,000 
			 2000–01 124,978,000 
			 2001–02 140,625,000 
			 2002–03 139,610,000 
		
	
	Note:
	The figures represent the total income or "turnover" of the trust.
	Source:
	Audited summarisation schedules of St. Helens and Knowsley NHS Trust 1998–99 to 2002–03.
	Prior to 2003–04, capital budget was allocated to the Department's former regional offices. The operational capital budget for the St. Helens and Knowsley Hospital NHS Trust is shown in the table.
	
		£
		
			  Amount 
		
		
			 2003–04 2,674,000 
			 2004–05 3,053,000 
			 2005–06 3,454,000

Strategic Health Authorities

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the (a) remit and (b) activities of strategic health authorities.

John Hutton: Strategic health authorities (SHAs) are the local headquarters of the national health service.
	The main functions of SHAs are:
	Creating a strategic framework to deliver the NHS Plan in their areas.
	Managing the performance of NHS organisations in their areas.
	Building capacity and supporting performance improvement across all local health agencies.

Surrey and Sussex Health Authority

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding Surrey and Sussex Health Authority received in 2003–04.

Rosie Winterton: The final resource limit for Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority in 2003–04 was £126.8 million.

Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact his Department's policies have had on (a) dealing with sickness rates and (b) promoting health in Tamworth constituency since 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government have put in place a programme of national health service investment and reform since 1997 to improve service delivery in all parts of the United Kingdom. There is significant evidence that these policies have yielded considerable benefits for the Tamworth constituency.
	For example:
	Inpatient and outpatient waits
	In June 2002, there were 261 people in the Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth Primary Care Trust (PCT) area waiting nine months or longer for inpatient treatment, including day cases. In May 2004, no one was waiting nine months or longer.
	In June 2002, there were 16 people in the Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth PCT area waiting 21 weeks or longer. In December 2003 there were none.
	Accident and emergency waits
	At Burton Hospitals NHS Trust, 93.3 per cent. of patients were admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours in the quarter to March 2004. The year average is 92.8 per cent., up from 89.2 per cent, in September 2002.
	At Good Hope Hospital NHS Trust, 92.4 per cent. of patients were admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours in the quarter to March 2004. The year average is 94.3 per cent., up from 81.2 per cent. in September 2002.
	Staffing
	Between September 1997 and December 2003 the number of consultants at Burton Hospitals NHS Trust increased from 60 to 83. The number of nurses increased from 632 to 774 between September 1997 and September 2003.
	Between September 1997 and December 2003 the number of consultants at Good Hope Hospital NHS Trust increased from 54 to 67. The number of nurses increased from 809 to 847 between September 1997 and September 2003.
	Across the Burton, Lichfield and Tamworth PCT area, the number of general medical practitioners increased from 85 in September 2001 to 90 in December 2003.
	Access to care
	Figures for April 2004 show that all patients within Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth PCT are able to be offered an appointment with a general practitioner within two working days and with a primary care professional within one working day.
	In Burton Hospitals NHS Trust, 100 per cent. of people with suspected cancer are now seen by a specialist within two weeks of being urgently referred by their GP.
	In Good Hope Hospital NHS Trust, 99.8 per cent. of people with suspected cancer are now seen by a specialist within two weeks of being urgently referred by their GP.
	Between 1998 and 2001 in Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth PCT there was a 35 per cent. decrease in the mortality rates for cardiovascular disease (Coronary Heart Disease, Stroke and related conditions) in the under 75s.
	Allocations
	From 2003–04 to 2005–06, Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth PCT's allocation has risen by £32.2 million or 30.4 per cent.
	New Capital
	A new £20 million independent sector treatment centre is being created at Burton Hospital NHS Trust, which will allow extra capacity for orthopaedic and ophthalmology surgery cases across the county.
	Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth PCT is on course to build the new community hospital in Lichfield, ready for the summer of 2006. The enabling works have already been completed on site and the business case has been signed off. The overall cost is around £16 million. All the services presently available to the local population will be re-provided in the new Lichfield Hospital, with the exception of day surgery, which has transferred to the Sir Robert Peel Hospital in Tamworth.
	Scanners
	An additional computed tomography (CT) scanner was delivered to Good Hope Hospital NHS Trust in January 2004.
	An additional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner was delivered to Good Hope Hospital NHS Trust in April 2001.
	A replacement CT scanner was delivered to Burton Hospitals NHS Trust in February 2001.
	An additional CT scanner will be delivered to Burton Hospitals NHS Trust by December 2004.
	An additional MRI scanner will be delivered to Burton Hospitals NHS Trust by December 2004.
	Source of information
	Department of Health. Office of National Statistics.

Temporary Staff

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether, when hiring temporary clerical and administration staff, hospitals are required to comply with the national framework agreement.

John Hutton: There is no mandatory requirement for national health service trusts to comply with the national framework agreement (NFA) set up by the NHS Purchasing and Supplies Agency (PASA). The benefits of using the NFA are clear. NHS trusts are encouraged to use the NFA by PASA.

Trainee Doctors

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many (a) whole-time equivalent and (b) headcount paediatric consultant specialists in kidney disease are working in the NHS; and how many vacant posts there are;
	(2)  how many trainee doctors specialising in paediatrics have been working in the NHS in each of the last seven years, broken down by gender;
	(3)  how many and what percentage of paediatric trainee doctors have gone on to take up consultancy posts in each of the last seven years.

John Hutton: As at 31 December 2003, there were 1,589 whole-time equivalent and 1,753 headcount paediatric consultants working in the national health service. Data held by the Department do not distinguish how many of these consultants specialise in kidney disease.
	As at 31 March, the three-month vacancy number for paediatric consultants was 43. The three-month vacancy rate was 2.7 per cent. This is lower than the average consultant three-month vacancy rate across all specialties, which was 4.7 per cent.
	Table 1 shows the number of doctors in training in the paediatric specialty since 1997, broken down by gender.
	Table 2 shows the cumulative total and percentage by year of first appearance as a consultant in the medical and dental workforce census.
	
		Table 1: Hospital, public health medicine and community health services (HCHS) Staff, Paediatric group training grades by gender and specialty, 1997–2003, England, as at 30 September -- Number (headcount)
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Paediatric group 2,648 2,720 2,838 2,936 2,875 3,049 3,258 
			 Of which:
			 Paediatrics 2,626 2,682 2,807 2,909 2,836 2,998 3,217 
			 Senior house officer 1,708 1,661 1,689 1,739 1,708 1,812 1,943 
			 Of which:
			 Male 708 675 645 640 651 713 812 
			 Female 1,000 986 1,044 1,099 1,057 1,099 1,131 
			 
			 House officer 18 26 36 43 39 51 69 
			 Of which:
			 Male 11 10 20 22 14 17 18 
			 Female 7 16 16 21 25 34 51 
			 Registrar 900 995 1,082 1,127 1,089 1,135 1,205 
			 Of which:
			 Male 430 455 462 456 449 471 468 
			 Female 470 540 620 671 640 664 737 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce census.
	
		Table 2: Cumulative total and percentage by year of first appearance as consultant in medical and dental workforce census
		
			  As at September 
			  1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
			 Expected CCST date financial year(83) No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % 
		
		
			 1997–98 cohort(84) 42 41 63 61 76 74 80 78 84 82 86 83 
			 1998–99 cohort — — 21 14 54 36 77 52 90 60 103 69 
			 1999–2000 cohort — — — — 46 26 82 46 105 59 116 65 
			 2000–01 cohort — — — — — — 59 30 100 51 119 60 
			 2001–02 cohort — — — — — — — — 77 32 115 48 
			 2002–03 cohort — — — — — — — — — — 50 21 
		
	
	(83) Expected certificate of completion of specialist training (CCST) date can change. If data have changed and moved later it is possible for the same trainee to appear under multiple years. Totals of each year appearing should therefore not be taken.
	(84) All cohorts consist of specialist registrars with an expected CCST date of within one year of the date of the planning extract collection.
	Note: Paediatrics is the paediatrics group, which covers paediatrics, paediatric neurology, paediatric cardiology.
	Source: Medical and dental workforce census and planning extract.

United Healthcare

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what dates special advisers from his Department have met with United Healthcare since 1 May 1997; where each meeting was held; and which of his special advisers took part in each meeting.

Rosie Winterton: Special Advisers Paul Corrigan and Darren Murphy met with United Healthcare on 24 June 2002 at No. 10 Downing street. Paul Corrigan met with United Healthcare again on 23 July 2002 at Church House, Great Smith street.

Waiting Times

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, for each of the last 10 years, the total number of patients in Tamworth constituency, or the nearest relevant unit of population, waiting for NHS operations for longer than (a) 18, (b) 15, (c) 12, (d) nine and (e) six months.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is not collected centrally on a constituency basis, but is collected at a primary care trust level (PCT) and the earliest available data are shown in the table.
	
		Patients waiting for elective admission: Commissioner based
		
			Patients waiting for admission by months waiting 
			 Organisation Month-end Total number of patients waiting for admission 6 to 8 months 9 to 11 months 12 to 14 months 15 to 17 months Over 18 months 
		
		
			 South Staffordshire Health Commission March 1996 9,404 343 15 5 0 0 
			 South Staffordshire HA March 1997 11,326 1,190 248 20 1 0 
			 South Staffordshire HA March 1998 15,817 2,422 1,316 591 62 0 
			 South Staffordshire HA March 1999 13,584 1,963 1,164 529 143 0 
			 South Staffordshire HA March 2000 12,997 2,046 1,203 610 173 0 
			 South Staffordshire HA March 2001 12,633 1,887 1,179 522 119 0 
			 South Staffordshire HA March 2002 11,827 1,766 731 9 0 0 
			 Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth PCT March 2003 3,081 383 114 0 0 0 
			 Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth PCT March 2004 2,891 183 0 0 0 0 
			 Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth PCT May 2004 2,998 233 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	Note:
	In 2002, health authorities were abolished. Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth PCT covers the Tamworth constituency. The data from March 2003 onwards are therefore not comparable with previous data.
	Source: Department of Health form QF01.

Waiting Times

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account he takes in pursuing his plans for reducing bed occupancy in NHS hospitals, of the target to reduce waiting times to 18 weeks between GP referral and start of treatment.

John Hutton: We have asked strategic health authorities and primary care trusts to take account of bed occupancy in their current capacity planning work to deliver 18-week waiting times.

Waiting Times

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which health professionals will not immediately be covered by the 18-week target from general practitioner referral to treatment set in the Spending Review.

John Hutton: Currently, the 18-week target covers general practitioner referrals to consultants. Work is continuing on whether and how to extend the range of guarantees. Further details will be available in the technical guidance to the public service agreement, which will be published by Her Majesty's Treasury. Final guidance will be issued in the autumn.

Waiting Times

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to reconfigure departmental waiting list statistics so that they measure total waiting time to treatment as outlined in the NHS improvement plan.

John Hutton: holding answer on 15 July 2004
	The national health service already measures total waiting time to treatment for cancer services with targets for maximum waiting times set in the "Cancer Plan" (2000).
	The Government will shortly be setting out its plans for delivering the target outlined in the NHS Improvement Plan 2008, including how waiting times for diagnostic procedures and total waiting times will be measured.